On graduating from the London College of Fashion, Rachel Skinner began her classical millinery apprenticeship with the illustrious hatter Frederick Fox, there she made hats for Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal Family, British Nobility, and Norman Hartnell collection.  Increasingly beloved as a society milliner, Rachel was keen to explore more directional fashion, moving to Stephen Jones in 1990, where she worked on the collections and Paris shows of designers including John Galliano, Lanvin Couture, Balenciaga, Catherine Hammett and Hanae Mori.

In 1993, Rachel’s talents were further acknowledged when The Princes Trust granted her funding to establish Rachel Skinner Millinery.  This eponymous jewel box of a shop was situated in London’s leafy Primrose Hill, an area synonymous with the mid-90’s Cool Britannia movement.  Rachel’s celebrity clientele grew to include Kate Moss, Mick Jagger, Paul Weller, Gwen Stefani, Rachel Weisz and Elle McPherson - Jagger commissioning Rachel Skinner Millinery to make headwear for the Rolling Stones Voodoo Lounge World Tour in 1994 (and featuring her pieces again in the Stones global 2016 Exhibitionism tour).

In 1995 Rachel Skinner Millinery expanded into ready-to-wear collections, with retailers included Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Fenwick’s, Fortnum & Mason and The National Gallery in London, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks, Neiman Marcus, and Barneys in New York, as well as multiple locations across Japan, Asia and Europe.  

Rachel works on regular commissions for film, theatre, television and commercials.  She has created pieces for display at the Victoria and Albert Museum, for the theatrical productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber, and for industry events and exhibitions that span Paris and London Fashion Weeks, The London Designers Exhibition, The Vienna Fashion Show, Chelsea Crafts fair, Design Resolution, Australia, Galerie Handwork, Munich, Hong Kong Fashion Week, and Premier Classe Paris.  As the recipient of multiple industry awards, Rachel has toured Hong Kong, Australia, Austria and Dubai on behalf of the UK Government’s Department of Trade and Industry showcase of British Designers.

In 2013, Rachel collaborated with longtime friend and fellow milliner Sarah Lomax to launch Lomax and Skinner Bespoke Millinery, with both designers sharing a mutual respect for traditional millinery methods, attention to detail, and thoughtful design.  In addition to the creation of bespoke occasion and bridal millinery, producing events, exhibitions and window displays for the likes of Fenwick’s of Bond Street, and creating a series of floral headdress collections for Philippa Craddock for Matches Fashion, Lomax and Skinner became Artists in Residence at the Hyatt Regency Churchill Hotel in London, crafting a mystical world of millinery inspired by Alice in Wonderland, in collaboration with Tatler magazine.  Lomax and Skinner also co-authored the book ‘Millinery, The Art of Hat Making’.

In May 2024, Rachel Skinner opened the doors to her latest retail boutique and atelier, reviving the eponymous Rachel Skinner Millinery in the historic county town of Lewes, East Sussex.  Rachel Skinner Millinery can also be found at Elys of Wimbledon and the annual Chapeau! London Mayfair pop-up.

Rachel Skinner is a founding member, and was also founding director of the British Hat Guild.