Leigh Magar was born and raised in South Carolina. After exploring expressions in painting and sculpture she moved to New York City to study Millinery at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

At school and through apprenticeships she learned the classic couture techniques of hand-blocking and hand stitching hats.

She is impassioned by the sculptural process of hatmaking. She is inspired by the notion where fuctional objects transform into art.

In 1994 she opened her own company, MAGAR HATWORKS; Magar opened a storefront retail shop & studio @ 557 1/2 King Street, Charleston, South Carolina in September 2001. Items available at the shop are hand-made & one-of-a-kind.

Magar's hats are available at Barneys-New York, Isetan-Japan, The Hat Shop in Soho, The Sanctuary-Kiawah Island, Pompadour-Michigan, & Parrot Cay Hotel in BWI.  She also takes custom orders and commissions. She also takes custom orders and commissions. Celebrity clients have included Gregory Hines, Sandra Bullock, Christina Aguilera, Dwana Smallwood (Alvin Ailey Dance Theater), Bill Taft & Michael Stipe.


*Magar designed a special line for Jussara Lee's Fall 1997 Bryant Park runway show.
*She exhibited in a group show at SECCA (South Eastern Center for Contemporary Art); "Wear Art: Functional and Accessory Show"-Fall 1997.
*Cocktail hats were featured in Barneys New York-Christmas window 1998.
*Included in ‘Practical Extravagance’, curated by South Carolina Arts Commission, NationsBank Plaza, Columbia, SC, May-September 1999.
*Participated in ‘Sin-So-Rama’, a fashion/performance art show for Piccolo Spoleto 1999.
*Created several hats for bride’s maids-Rachel Feinstein’s wedding @ the Parrot Jungle (Miami), Summer 1999.
*Participated in ‘Crafts of the Carolinas’ exhibit @ the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, September 2001.
*Conducted a one-day demonstration at the South Carolina Museum of Art in Columbia. October 2001.
*Hats purchased by South Carolina Museum of Art in Columbia for permanent collection. December 2001.
*Collaborated w/ J. Morgan Puett on ‘Cottage Industry’, an installation of hand-made garments & hats, Spoleto Festival 2002.

*Appeared on South Carolina Educational TV (Verve) as a guest artist interview & studio visit. July 2000.
*Appeared in Charleston Magazine (January/February 2002) & Cooking Light Magazine (March 2002).
*Hats were shown in the September 1997 Vogue (Vogue Index) and December 1997 New York Times Magazine (Best Bets).
*Her former house and studio are included in the book Charleston Style-Past & Present, published by Rizzoli 1999.
*Listed in Travel & Leisure (June 2002) shopping report and South Carolina House & Garden (July/August 2002) fashion section.
*Full-page feature in Attache-US Airways in-flight magazine (June 2002).
*Featured in Washington Flyer-magazine & travel guide (September/October 2003)