By Sharon Flax-Brutus
More than fifty years ago, in a yard shaded by trees and memory, my grandmother and my great aunt Eunice made hats.
Not from anything store-bought or predictable—but from what they had. Fibres drawn from the trees, dried in the sun, shaped patiently by hand. It was craftsmanship, yes, but also imagination at work long before anyone thought to call it that.
One Easter stands out. Aunt Eunice, enjoying her sweets, began saving the candy wrappers—bright, crinkled pieces of color—and folding them into her designs. The hats shimmered with a kind of joy that had nothing to do with cost and everything to do with creativity.
That spirit did not fade. It simply waited its turn.
More than half a century later, at the very first Easter Hat Parade in Virgin Gorda, my sister, Dawn Flax, placed a hat on my head made mostly of Skittles. Not accented—constructed. It was playful, unexpected, and completely unforgettable. In writing this article it brought me full circle with the legacy of hat making in my family.
Over the years, Dawn has earned the affectionate title of the “Mad Hatter” of Virgin Gorda—a name that captures both her imagination and her fearless approach to creation. She does not design within limits. She creates from instinct.
One year, during my time as Director of Tourism, she crafted a Lobster Fest hat featuring an actual lobster, seamlessly paired with traditional BVI fabric. It was bold, theatrical, and somehow perfectly at home—much like the island itself. She didn’t manage to erase the lobster smell though and I carried it with me along with my hat the entire weekend.
The Easter Hat Parade has become her canvas. Each year, she arrives not just with a hat, but with a story—something whimsical, layered, and entirely her own. She creates from whatever comes to mind, and that freedom is exactly what makes her work stand apart.
From playful whimsy to bold statements—each piece reflects a story, a moment, and a mind unbound by the status quo.
This year, she captured four of the eight categories—a quiet but unmistakable statement. Not just of talent, but of consistency - of showing up year after year with something new, something daring, something unmistakably Dawn Flax.
What makes Dawn’s creations special is not only the materials—whether candy, fabric, florals, or something entirely unexpected—but the spirit behind them. She does not overthink. She does not hesitate. She simply creates.And in doing so, she continues a legacy that began in a yard, with hands shaping fibres and candy wrappers catching the light.
Some traditions are carefully preserved.
Others evolve—growing brighter, bolder, and more expressive with time.
And sometimes, if you’re lucky, they return to you… not just as memory, but as something you
can wear, celebrate, and share with the world. We look forward to Dawn’s creations for Virgin Gorda’s golden celebrations next year as we enjoy sixty (60) years of Easter Festival.
Sharon Flax-Brutus is a Virgin Gorda native whose stories are shaped by family, memory, and island tradition. A former Director of Tourism, she now leads Virgin Gorda Villa Rentals and continues to share the people and moments that give the island its character.