HATS OFF TO AIME FOR MILLINERY CREATIONS
SINCE she was three years old, Aime O’Shea from Killorglin sat beside her grandmother learning to sew, and for each outfit she made, she always ensured that there was a hat to match. So it comes as no surprise that her love of hats has led to her making waves in the millinery world.
The 32-year old has sent off her latest creation to the UK for London Hat Week having been selected as one of the exhibitors for the fashion extravaganza, which will have millinery creations from all around the world.
This year’s theme is ‘World Garden’, and Aime used the rugged scenery of the MacGillycuddy Reeks, which she can see from her workshop, as her inspiration for this year’s hat.
This is the second time that Aime has been chosen as an exhibitor at the gala fashion event, and she is thrilled that her work is being seen around the world.
“I am absolutely delighted to be selected among milliners from all over the world,” said Aime.
For Aime, hats are a key fashion accessory.
“People look at a hat before they look at anything else,” says Aime “Customers bring me their outfits and I make the perfect hat for it.”
“A hat has to sit perfectly, and it has to go with a person’s personality.”
It took Aime some time to enter the world of millinery, but during her studies at the Mallow school of Design and Tailoring – during which time she was a Young Designer of the Year finalist – she realised that it was not only about the outfits but about the hat to go with it.
Since then, she has garnered much acclaim and has created hats for some of the Rose of Tralee contestants in recent years.
For Aime, millinery is a passion rather than a job.
“I just love it. I could make hats all day long,” she said.
And her dream would be to make a hat for Kate Midelton: “I love her style and she can really wear a hat,” says Aime.
Aime’s hats are custom-made and she loves to use different materials. More details are on her website, www.aimeoshea designs. com; and her Facebook page.