COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
J Smith Esquire
Bespoke milliner Justin Smith, J Smith Esquire, is one of the most acclaimed milliners in the profession. He was handpicked by Angelina Jolie to create her striking horned headpiece for Disney’s Maleficent and was also one of the designers behind the headwear for Star Wars.
He has created bespoke commissions for high-end fashion houses such as Stella McCartney and Moschino, and his work has been sold in boutiques and renowned department stores across the globe.
His journey into millinery began at the age of 18 when he trained as a hairdresser and, within a matter of years, had moved to London and become creative director of Tony and Guy. Far removed from your standard cut and colour, his creative, avant-garde sculptural hairstyles were featured in photoshoots for global fashion brands.
In 2002, he opened his own salon in Soho, but soon felt like he was ready to pursue something even more creative.
“I started learning millinery at evening classes and as soon as I completed my first hat, I was addicted. I then began studying part-time, eventually going on to complete my MA at the Royal College of Art. It was seven years of training but worth every minute as I received critical acclaim for my graduation show,” Justin explained. “And so, J Smith Esquire was established.”
“After taking on more and more bespoke commissions over the years, with work shown at international fashion weeks and sold in stores like Barney’s in New York, I moved from Soho to an old coach house in Elephant and Castle to have more millinery space. Then, after a few years, I felt like I needed a shop window for my work.
“Through a chance conversation with a friend-of-a-friend who ran an antique shop in an old hat factory, I discovered that De Beauvoir Town has a history of millinery trade. There was also once a button and a mannequin factory in the area.
“I knew right away that this was the perfect area for my shop.”
Living around the corner, Justin walked into the Benyon Estate office one day and explained what he was looking for. “I didn’t have any expectations, I just wanted to see what the Benyon Estate had to offer, and they said ‘it sounds like you need our office’ almost straight away,” Justin added.
The Benyon Estate had been planning to move office to provide more space for its growing team and so, in due course, Justin took over the spot at 97 Southgate Road in 2018.
The J Smith Esquire hairdressing salon is open two days a week in the space on Southgate Road, alongside a workshop and a hat-fitting space. Justin’s background in hairdressing still plays a vital role in his day-to-day work, as he styles customer’s hair around the hat for maximum style and impact.
“I work one-on-one with all my clients and really enjoy getting to know them, understanding their requirements and providing them with a really rich experience,” Justin explained.
Almost all of the company’s pieces are handmade at Southgate Road by Justin himself, the others made by one of his team of freelancers, two of whom started their millinery careers as apprentices at J Smith Esquire.
Justin added, “millinery is a labour of love, and I’m lucky to have made a career out of something that I love. After 20 years, for everything to slot together like this is just fantastic.”
Find out more about J Smith Esquire at www.jsmithesquire.com.
J Smith Esquire - 97 Southgate Road, London N1 3JS
