We recently had the pleasure of hosting a Facebook Live event with presenter Shelly Horton and the iconic Deborah Hutton as her guest. They sat down to discuss all things Canopy Bay, her new range of sun hats, all whilst trying on each style at least twice in the span of their thirty-minute chat.

We were hooked, to say the least, and wish we could subscribe to a curated Deborah X Shelly podcast – how entertaining would that be!

Who is Deborah Hutton?

An absolute Aussie icon, need we say more? With her first appearance on the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine at just 16 years old, Deborah has successfully pursued interests in many industries throughout her career including television, business and modelling. Now, as a fortunate skin cancer survivor, she plays an important role in raising skin cancer awareness and supports several charitable organizations as brand ambassador.

What inspired the creation of Canopy Bay hats?

Growing up in the Sunshine State, Deborah has spent most of her life outdoors enjoying all that our beautiful country has to offer.

Unfortunately, about ten years ago, she was diagnosed with skin cancer and had to undergo invasive surgery on her upper lip. Following a second cancer scare and surgery in 2020, Deborah posted a picture of the scarring to her Instagram which sparked an overwhelming response; incredible conversations ensued, with thousands of people sharing their personal skin cancer stories.

A skin cancer diagnosis is a hard reality that many Australians will face throughout their lifetimes which is why Deborah highly encourages scheduling regular skin checks with your local skin doctor or dermatologist.

Behind the scenes of the design process

Is your hat really protecting you or is it just providing you with shade? Believe it or not, there’s a difference.

And after learning about a UPF50+ sun protection braided material that blocks harsh UV rays, Deborah knew this was how she could help raise awareness to Australians. Made and designed in Australia, Deborah plays a significant part in the hat design process and makes regular visits to the production facility near her house in Melbourne.

What makes this range unique?

So many things!

With the goal of providing protection for all occasions, combined with a sleek and versatile style, Canopy Bay ticks all the boxes.

Made from Flexibraid raffia, the hats are designed to be compact and travel-friendly, maintaining their structure and shape when packed. So you can pop them in your beach bag, suitcase or even wear them worry-free in the pool on your tropical holiday.

With an adjustable internal band, a signature wide brim for ultimate sun protection and a curated unisex range, there’s a style for everyone.

Last but not least, all styles are named after significant people or places in Deborah’s life. For example, the Carla hat is named after the late Carla Zampatti and was Deborah’s way of paying tribute to the fashion icon and acknowledging her enormous contribution to the industry, while the Amalfi hat was inspired by the ever-famous Italian coastline (where the BB HQ team would rather be).