In 1976, with the New Zealand hat trade on the verge of collapse, the millinery brand Dollie Vardin Millinery ambitiously embarked on founding its workroom in Christchurch. The millinery equivalent of haute couture, Dollie Vardin was never intended for the mass market. After the launch, the brand received support from highly-skilled retired milliners from rare materials to the tricks of trade. 

Dawei Zhang took over from Ailie Miller at Dollie Vardin Millinery, and continues the label's traditions of creating beautiful headwear for various occasions. Millinery is an industry that is slowly disappearing, not only because of its delicate craftsmanship, it also requires highly specialised rare materials and trims. For Dawei, a hat is a sculpture, which represents the perfect synergy of art and fashion. Dawei stated: I love hats and everything associated with them. I would be gutted to see this industry disappear. I will continue to make more beautiful hats for people. I want to make sure this traditional craft and culture is preserved. 

In 2022, Dawei Zhang created a juliette cap style fascinator with a twisted synthetic horsehair veil detail for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as part of the wardrobe for her to wear at Queen Elizabeth II's funerary ceremonies and was worn at the visit to Queen Elizabeth II lying-in-state in Westminster Hall, 16th September 2022.

Dawei is a graduate of Whitecliffe and will feature in The Graduate Show.

​