Become a Supporting Member
For individuals who wish to personally champion the survival of our craft and actively contribute to the foundation’s historic preservation work, we warmly invite you to become a Supporting Member (stödmedlem). For an annual contribution of 250 SEK, members gain insider insights into our ongoing preservation initiatives, historical research, and updates from our advanced apprenticeship programmes. Your valuable support directly protects the future of traditional hatter craftsmanship.
Welcome!
We welcome anyone who wishes to engage in raising awareness of the hatter’s rich tradition of knowledge. Becoming a supporting member is an excellent way for you to show your support for Sveriges Hattmakare Förening (The Swedish Hatters Association) and the hatter profession. As a supporting member, you will receive regular updates on the association's ongoing initiatives, projects and work within the market. Your engagement is invaluable. The survival of the traditional hatter craft relies on a shared passion for the trade, and through your membership, you are actively supporting one of the oldest living guild professions in Sweden with roots extending as far back as the 14th century in Sweden.
Supporting Membership Terms and Conditions
These terms and conditions outline the fundamental guidelines and rules applicable to anyone choosing to become a supporting member and engage with Sveriges Hattmakare Förening (The Swedish Hatters Association). By clearly defining the framework of our supporting membership, we ensure a transparent organisation where the core of our craft is managed with the highest standard of quality.
-
Membership Fee: The annual fee for supporting members is 250 SEK. Your contribution directly funds and supports the association’s work, goals and objectives.
-
Invoicing: Invoices for the membership fee are issued digitally as a PDF file and sent to your email address from info@sverigeshattmakareforening.se.
-
Age Limit: Supporting membership is open to anyone 18 years of age or older. Applicants under the age of 18 require written consent from a parent or legal guardian.
-
Renewal: Supporting memberships are automatically renewed at the start of each new calendar year unless actively terminated.
-
Voting Rights: In accordance with the association’s current bylaws, supporting members do not hold voting rights at the annual general meetings or member meetings.
-
Data Protection: All personal data belonging to supporting members is handled securely and processed in compliance with current data protection legislation (GDPR).
-
Termination: You may terminate your membership at any time by sending a written notice to the association.
-
Expulsion: Sveriges Hattmakare Förening reserves the right to expel any supporting member who counteracts the association’s purpose, violates its bylaws or core values, or otherwise damages the interests of the craft.
Where does the funding go?
Thank you for choosing to support the work of Sveriges Hattmakare Förening (The Swedish Hatters Association). All activities within the association are conducted entirely on a voluntary basis, and no remunerations or fees are paid out. The funds collected through supporting memberships, the sale of supporting merchandise, donations, lectures and other activities go entirely towards safeguarding the traditional hatter profession as a vital part of the Swedish craft tradition since 1597. Below is an overview of the priority areas the association is currently working on:
-
Documenting professional history: Collecting historical images and narratives for an upcoming reference book and essays on the traditional hatter trade in Sweden.
-
Producing educational literature: Documenting unique working techniques and professional skills in writing and moving images to serve as educational material for future apprentices.
-
Cataloguing the tool collection: Photographing, registering and documenting historical hatter tools to ensure their long-term survival.
-
Safeguarding professional competence: Working to clearly identify and highlight hatters holding official Journeyman and Master Certificates within the market.
-
Applying for cultural heritage status: Driving the process to have the manufacturing of the traditional calico gossamer body listed as an official intangible cultural heritage.
-
Registering hat models: Photographing and documenting various classic, ceremonial and military-historical hat models.
-
Securing the doctoral hat: Protecting the two traditional models of the Swedish doctoral hat as a unique part of the academic cultural heritage.
-
Ensuring educational quality: Working to ensure current curricula harmonise with the industry’s knowledge criteria, and that apprentices are supervised by a qualified Master.
-
Counteracting conceptual confusion: Raising awareness of, addressing and correcting inaccurate information surrounding the traditional hatter profession in public and social media.
-
Funding association operations: Covering the association’s annual operational costs for the website, printed matter, supporting merchandise and informational materials.