Profile: Wearable Art Classes & Parties

Thank you to Mannequin Madness for sponsoring {510} Families today. Special offer: From now until December 31, 2022, save 10% off classes and parties with code 510Families.

Inside the Oakland showroom of Mannequin Madness, wearable art workshops and parties invite guests to get creative in a unique space. You’ll be amazed at the various mannequins throughout the showroom as well as the enormous stock of workshop supplies. There’s a wide and ever-changing selection of eco-friendly crafting materials such as faux flowers, rhinestones, shells, and charms. Choose from a variety of colors, styles, and textures to create a handmade, one-of-a-kind headdress to wear again and again.

girl with mannequin head, hot glue gun, and artificial flowers
Starting at the very beginning  | Photo: The Headdress Workshop

For East Bay Families interested in memorable craft sessions, stress reduction, and wearable art, The Headdress Workshop was created for you! The Headdress Workshop provides all the supplies and inspiration. The only skill needed is the ability to use a glue gun.

Weekly group classes The Headdress Workshop

Group classes are held every Sunday at 2 pm and you can make whatever style of headdress you like. The average class size is 6 with a maximum of 15 people. Select what type of creation you’d like to work on during registration. Options include halo, mermaid, cultural heritage, and fascinator with new styles and seasonal choices throughout the year.

All workshops are unique and can be enjoyed individually (me time!) or with friends. Classes are age-appropriate for kids 8 and up.

After a safety briefing about using the glue gun, workshop attendees choose their own materials and then design their creations on a mannequin head at their workstations. Build a mermaid-inspired shell crown for a beach party, a flower crown to wear to a music concert, or a fascinator-style headpiece to wear to a wedding.

“The teacher was patient, knowledgeable, and always available. The venue was perfect, colorful, and contributed to the creative experience. Supplies are plentiful and exciting. I would do this again.” ~ Brenda S.

Price: $60 per headdress
Location: 1031 Cotton Street, Oakland

Book at least 24 hours prior to the class to secure your spot.

mom and child wearing floral crowns
Mama and daughter coordinating floral headbands! | Photo: The Headdress Workshop

The Headdress Workshop has special materials for seasonal classes. In the fall, customers can enjoy making Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Halloween-themed, and Autumn-related headpieces. For the winter holidays, they’ll offer related supplies for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Eve.

headdress workshop class
Floral crown wearable art class in progress | Photo: The Headdress Workshop

Creative birthday parties and private gatherings

The Headdress Workshop offers private group bookings for birthday parties, graduation parties, showers, B’nai mitzvah, moms’ groups, or office groups. A unique headdress suits anyone regardless of gender, body shape and size, and hairstyle.

Party rental includes 3-hour private access to the space with 90 minutes for headdress making and 90 minutes in the photo studio for socializing and opening gifts. Decorations and food are allowed in the photo studio when you pay the $100 venue fee plus $50 per person. More details are here.

six children wearing flower crowns
These kids built beautiful wearable art as a unique birthday party activity | Photo: The Headdress Workshop

How it all began

As the owner of Mannequin Madness, a mannequin recycling company, Judi Henderson had access to mannequin heads to use as “canvases” for art projects. When she unexpectedly received a truckload of faux flowers from Macy’s flower show, she made some elaborate designs combining the flowers and dummy heads. Seeing how popular the paint and sip classes were where people made art for their walls, she decided to create a design and sip (tea instead of wine) where people could make art for their heads! She was even more excited about the classes when she discovered research that such activities serve to reduce stress and bring joy to people’s lives.

girl wearing floral crown
Children 8+ can create their own floral headdress at a class or party. | Photo: The Headdress Workshop

More ideas for teen & tween birthday parties >>

Thank you to The Headdress Workshop. From now until December 31, 2022, save 10% off classes and parties with code 510Families.