Haberdashery vs. Millinery

Main Difference

The main difference between Haberdashery and Millinery is that the Haberdashery is a person who sells small articles for sewing and Millinery is a manufacture and design of hats and headwear.

• Haberdashery

  A haberdasher is a person who sells small articles for sewing, such as buttons, ribbons, zippers (in the United Kingdom), or a men’s outfitter (American English). The sewing articles are called haberdashery, or “notions” (American English).

• Millinery

  Hatmaking or millinery is the design, manufacture and sale of hats and head-ware. A person engaged in this trade is called a milliner or hatter.

  Millinery is sold to women, men and children, though some definitions limit the term to women’s hats. Historically, milliners, typically female shopkeepers, produced or imported an inventory of garments for men, women, and children, including hats, shirts, cloaks, shifts, caps, neckerchiefs, and undergarments, and sold these garments in their millinery shop.

  More recently, the term milliner has evolved to describe a person who designs, makes, sells or trims hats primarily for a female clientele.

  The origin of the term is probably the Middle English milener, meaning an inhabitant of the city of Milan or one who deals in items from Milan, known for its fashion and clothing.