Photo courtesy of Terry T. Preshaw, © 2004

My name is Heather Daveno. I taught myself how to make hats about twenty years ago while I was a member of a living history organization. Fellow historians, who knew me as “Lao, that medieval Eurasian nomad” , watched as I turned costume scraps and second-hand furs into hats that were warm, well-made, and historically appropriate. They coined the phrase “Lao Hats” when describing them to their friends, and a brand was born. Lao Hats remain a status symbol in some historical reenactment communities on the West Coast.

Recognizing the potential my hats had in the art-to-wear market, I eventually left the living history community and launched Lao Hats as a licensed business in Washington State. I now sell my hats from my web site as well as in galleries and art shows across the country. Some of my customers have decided “ one cannot own too many Lao Hats” and have become avid collectors of my work.

I continue to be influenced by the textiles, paintings and manuscripts of medieval and Renaissance Europe, Russia and Asia, as well as more modern influences from the flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwest. I design my hats one at a time from textiles, furs and leathers salvaged from vintage coats, thrift store finds and other reclaimed sources. It is by sheer coincidence that ‘Lao’, the Chinese word for ‘old’, has become a reference to the recycled nature of my handcraft. When I am not making hats, I am either in my garden, or planning my next adventure. Click here to go to my Travel Journal page!

Lao Hats -- historically inspired, yet timeless…

Stores and Galleries
The Dolphin Song, Gardner Kansas since 2006
Raven Blues, Poulsbo Washington 2006-2008
Sticks and Stones, White Salmon Washington 2006-2007
Morningstar Boutique, Boulder Colorado 2006-2007
Nature’s Kitchen, Yreka California since 2006
Molbaks, Woodinville Washington 2006
Shop at the Textile Center, Minneapolis Minnesota 2005
Relish, Erie Pennsylvania 2005
Voss' Birchwood Lodge, Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin 2005
The Artisan's Guild, New Britain Connecticut 2003-2005
Mile Six Unique Jewelry, Seattle Washington 2003-2005
Flying Bird Studio, New Hampshire 2002

Art Shows and Festivals

Best of the Northwest, Seattle Washington since 2003
RAGS Wearable Art Sale and Benefit, Tacoma Washington 2006-2008
More the Merrier at Molbaks, Woodinville Washington 2006
Holiday Sale at Brookfield Craft Center, Brookline Connecticut since 2004
One & Only Holiday Show at the John Michael Kohler Art Gallery, Sheboygan Wisconsin since 2005
Holiday Sale at the Textile Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota 2005
Hatstravaganza, Horatio's Antiques, Tacoma Washington 2005
Bellevue Arts & Crafts Fair, Bellevue Washington 2005
Art as Gift, Pomerene Center, Coshocton Ohio 2003-2005

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