A traditional hat maker who was inspired by Indiana Jones’s headgear is hoping to become a ‘trader in the lost art’.

Teignmouth-based milliner Matthew Evans makes bespoke hats using skills and techniques that are hundreds of years old.

He’s now crowdfunding for £3,000 to set up a workshop where he can expand his business and pass on the traditional craft of hat making to others.

He said: “I believe this is more than just a fundraising story - it's about preserving heritage, supporting independent craftsmanship, and ensuring that centuries-old skills aren't lost forever.”

Matthew studied costume production at Arts University Plymouth but said his pursuit of traditional hat-making skills was more of a personal quest.

He said: “I loved the Indiana Jones films and wanted my own Indy hat, but could never find one good enough, so I started researching how they’re made.

“I found an old-school hatter and convinced him to teach me. These age-old skills are rarely found online or in books, so that was amazing gift.

“I completely fell in love with the craft, everything being hand made from start to finish.

Matthew – trading as Maddog Hats – has been making classic Indiana Jones-style fedoras for the last few years and finding buyers via Instagram, a but now wants to set up a website for his business.

He said: “Every hat is made by hand using time-honoured methods, preserving skills that have become increasingly rare in today's mass-produced world.

“Like many traditional craftspeople, it's becoming more difficult to sustain this type of work financially.

“To help keep this historic craft alive and continue making handmade hats, I've recently launched a GoFundMe campaign https://gofund.me/7d152c20c. The support will help me invest in materials, tools, and continue producing bespoke hats while passing these traditional skills on to future generations.”

He’s hoping his workshop will also become a hub for others to teach traditional crafts and pass them on to the community.