B Unique Millinery Round Up 2024
Posted by Doug Treasure on
February - 2024
February saw the departure of our USA Regional Manager, Andrea Blohm, to focus on education and advocacy through Millinery MeetUp (MMU). We wish Andrea all the best and know that we will see her in the future.
We welcomed Katie Allen as the new US Manager and stock was transferred to her in Garner NC, close to Raleigh. Katie comes from a background in theatre and is a member of the USA Milliners Guild.
March – 2024
Brenda and Doug loaded up their car and drove into the Australian Outback to Roma, Queensland where Brenda taught and made hats with over XX students.
April – 2024
April saw a change of leadership in the UK/Europe region as Sian Wright moved on to non-millinery pursuits. We are still in touch with Sian and value her continued friendship.
Sian moved the B Unique stock to Nellie Pitts, our new UK/Europe Regional Manager, in Swindon. Nellie has an extensive customer service and marketing background.
With the addition of Nellie, for the first time all four B Unique Regional Managers are now actively involved in teaching millinery skills.
The Barcelona/London Hat Walk model spread around the world as the first World Hat Walk. Twenty-one cities participated, including Raleigh NC, where Katie participated with her daughter.
May - 2024
This month opened with the highly anticipated 150th running of the Kentucky Derby. Vibrant and celebratory headwear was on display for the special occasion. We spotted many a B Unique trimming adorning the racegoer's hats and our own Katie Allen had her client in the 150th feather headpiece featured in many best hat articles.
June - 2024
B Unique was proud to sponsor the second Milliners Guild International Millinery Competition; Mildred Blount - The Milliner with the Golden Hands. This competition challenged milliners to take an iconic film hat from the 1930s, 40s, or 50s, and create a fashion hat inspired by it. There was a wide range of styles, from casual to dramatic, we did not envy the judges' job. We were pleased to award a $200 gift voucher to the second-place winner Candy Warhol whose hat was inspired by The Invisible Man, clever! There were so many fantastic entries, it was inspiring to see.
August - 2024
The Canada warehouse in Vancouver moved into a larger location for easier in-person shopping. All four worldwide warehouses are now open to the public by pre-arranged appointment.
September - 2024
After a six-year period of online only classes, due to Covid, the US saw the highly anticipated, in person, return of Millinery Meetup. B Unique was honored to be the Diamond Sponsor for the event.
Brenda, Doug, and Canadian Manager Marcia traveled to the US to meet up with US Manager, Katie, for an international representation at the MMU Millinery Marketplace. Marcia and Katie enjoyed classes as well.
Part of the event included demonstrations and lectures by instructors and suppliers. Brenda participated in a panel, sharing her knowledge of the industry as a supplier, and was joined by Katie and Marcia to present a blocking demo on our buntal mats, as well as instruction on using brimlock and leather-look tubing to create unique trims.
We were pleased to sponsor the Best Craftsmanship prize in their Sci-Fi hat competition, won by Austin Grey. She was presented with a hamper of goodies from B Unique. Best Overall Hat was won by Sally Caswell. These were some very innovative hats!
It was great to be back in person again, meeting with old friends, and making new ones!
December - 2024
We end the year with the much-loved HATalk Competition announcing its 2024 competition winners. The theme this year was water, and it was a delight to see the wide range of inspiration this sparked in milliners around the globe. Our own UK manager, Nellie entered a beautifully fluid piece titled Humphrey. Can you spot the whale?
First place went to Wen-Ting Kuo of Taiwan, who created a piece representing all the forms water takes. Outstanding!
