Unlike many designers that are inspired by images, Sui is more touched by words, which will lead to an image in his head from which he abstracts the materials and craft to make it into a piece of headwear.

All the hats from his brand are made by his own crafting team and workshop, after he found out that few factories could make the hats he designed.

"Sui is a person who focuses on details－his standard for making a hat is much higher than the ordinary standard," co-founder of Suiyida brand Shen Yangdu says. "For him, his millinery design is his hobby."

Shen, 30, director of operations of the brand, says their team has grown from three people to 10 since the brand was founded four years ago. "At first we had a small studio. After three relocations, we now have a larger open space for designing and making the hats," he says.

"China actually has a long history of wearing hats. For instance, in ancient times, the headwear an emperor wore was a symbol of power," Shen says.

"We want to bring the hat culture back to modern times."