Jo works part-time as a chemotherapy nurse, a role that gives her perspective and reminds her each day to see the good in life. But when she’s not at the hospital, you’ll often find her in her studio sketching designs or shaping silk and straw into bold, thoughtful creations as the maker behind Jo Maree Millinery.
Her path into hat-making was mainly accidental. When her husband bought a share in a racehorse, Jo realised she’d need something special to wear to the track. She decided to try making her own hat, and that first attempt sparked something bigger.
Curious about the craft, she enrolled at TAFE to master the art of millinery. “Millinery is my happy place,” she said. “It’s a blend of creativity, skill and social connection that I just love.”
Since then, Jo has poured her passion into both personal commissions and competition pieces, always aiming for designs that are elegant, wearable, and just a little left of centre.
Her entry to honour the Celebration theme of Millinery Australia’s Design Award competition is a perfect example. Inspired by Melbourne’s famously unpredictable weather, Jo created a stylised origami umbrella with the brim featuring a gradient of colours; a heat map of sorts, capturing Melbourne’s daily maximum temperatures over the past year. Cool blues transition into warm yellows and fiery reds, tracing winter’s chill into the heat of summer. Along the umbrella’s edge, black crystals were scattered like raindrops, each one marking a day of rainfall in the city and a gentle reminder of when an umbrella might have come in handy. It was a witty and playful nod to the city’s ‘four seasons in one day’ and the Crowded House song she loves.
While Jo enjoys pushing boundaries in design, she also cares deeply about how her hats make people feel. “When someone wears one of my pieces, I want them to feel comfortable and confident, and like it really suits them,” she explained. That philosophy has seen her work worn by MPs, racing presenters on TV and online, and countless clients who want something special for race days and celebrations.
Community remains at the heart of her practice. Jo has given presentations to Peninsula Home Hospice, assisting its fundraising efforts, and collaborated with various breast cancer charities. She also serves on the committee of Millinery Australia, helping to strengthen and promote the craft she loves.
Sustainability and creativity are always at the heart of Jo’s work, but what sets her apart is her warmth and optimism. Her nursing reminds her every day to value each moment, and that perspective flows into her millinery. For Jo, making hats is about the joy of creating, the friendships formed along the way, and the chance to offer something handmade and meaningful to others.
