SHE’S let success go to her head!

A Holmfirth hat designer has won a clutch of top medals for her excellent work.

Harriet Steele, 34, won the City and Guilds Gold Medal of Excellence in recognition of her millinery.

She was put forward for the award by Sharon Bainbridge, who was her tutor on the Level 3 Millinery course at Huddersfield Technical College.

Only 109 students were chosen for gold medals from the 1.5m people taking City and Guilds qualifications across all subjects in 2007.

The medals are given to students who have displayed exceptional talents.

Harriet received her medals at a ceremony at The Brewery in London’s East End.

She also won the Haberdashery Guild’s gold medal and has been invited to its annual lunch in July to display her hats.

Harriet said: “It was really exciting and an honour. I was very pleased to win two medals.”

The college closed the Level 3 course in 2006, so Harriet went on to start a Higher National Certificate course in millinery at Leeds College of Art and Design. She has just completed it.

During her HNC studies Harriet won two medals as part of the UK Skills Challenge.

One of the medals, a bronze, was awarded to Harriet and other students in her group for business entrepreneurship shown during a project.

A silver medal was awarded to her individually for her work in designing a hat for Royal Ascot.

Harriet said: “I seem to be getting everything at once. It’s been quite amazing.”

Harriet has been designing and making hats for five years. She started out as a jewellery designer but became interested in millinery after being asked by customers to make bridal head-dresses.

She moved from Australia to Holmfirth and it was there that she saw Ms Bainbridge giving a millinery display.

Harriet adds: “I just love the way that wearing a hat makes you feel special and walk taller. It brings out different sides of your personality.

“I love the challenge of working with different materials, such as leather, resin and latex as well as traditional felts. Doing things for customers makes it very special because they know they are getting something personal to them.”

As well as learning a new trade and building a business Harriet is a single mum to 10-year-old Adrian.

She said: “I have good family support, but Adrian is great.

“He’s really interested in my work and even does his own designs.”