samantha1170
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Joined: 01 Jul 2005
Posts: 1145
Location: Melbourne, Australia
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 Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 17:19 |
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JAY KAY NOW WEARING GEORGIAN DESIGNER'S HAT
Here's an article I just found...
Jay Kay now Wearing Georgian Designer’s Hat
The Jamiroquai frontman, who set a jazz fire in Tbilisi last week and is known for his obsession with wacky headgear, got one more wonderful piece for his collection. As he was about to rush to the concert in Tbilisi Philharmonic Hall and gave a press conference for journalists. But the organizers of the concert had one more surprise for him: the Georgian designer Nino K presented two hats to Jay Kay, a somewhat green Mongolian type hat with fur and a Soviet-style pointy hat which he immediately put on. Jay Kay did now know Nini Kovziridze, or Nini K before although one of his 70 hats was produced by her.
But Jay Kay is not the only celebrity who wears Nini K’s headgear. Nini K. designs are very popular among celebrity clientele and trendsetters like Beonce, Uma Thurman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Erica Badu, Quinn Latifah, Woody Allen, Bette Midler, Live Tyler and many others. Starting hats designing eight years ago, Nini K’s hand-made hats are recognized as feats of craftsmanship today. Stunning fibbers and intricate hand beading make her hats and scarves both unique and artistic. Currently based in New York today, Nini K’s hats are sold in New York and Europe, in Bergdorf Goodman, ABC, Selima Optics, Searles, Hat Shop, Roslyn's, Upper class and other high-end stores. Nini K has her own shop in Tbilisi, on Saburtalo Street as well to sell her trendy hats and accessories. I caught up with Nini K for an interview in her own shop, a tiny world of hats, accessories and clothes.
Nini K: “You know, this all started as a hobby and became a kind of profession. At first I was making the hats for my friends and family members, and just for fun. Then a friend of mine showed my hats to a store in New York. I had only a very small collection at that time. But the whole collection sold in just a week or so. Now I usually make 600 hats in winter and they are selling pretty well. I mostly make fall-winter hats, so I mostly make spring hats for west coast.
Q: Do you view your work as a business or art?
A: Oh no, it’s art for me. I always tell my friends that my brain works in a certain way. I like making business. I have no clue for business. My cousin, who is living in New York helps me out when it comes about invoices and staff like that.
Q: Who are your customers?
A: I have all kind of different customers, young and old. Even very old people love my hats because they are very sophisticated. Some of them are pretty much crazy, so the clientele ranges in all ages. Guys that I know often ask me when I am going to start working on men’s collection because they really love my hats.
Q: Do you have your favorite hat?
A: I have one favourite, the one that I wear. I just like the way it looks on me I usually like pointy hats because I am a bit smaller and it makes me feel taller(she is laughing).
Q: What was the highest price you sold your hat?
A: The highest perhaps was the hat which was sold in New York for 650 USD. But I am not get paid that much. You know, the stores set a high mark-up on the hats. Others are usually sold out less than 500 USD. But they are not certainly that expensive here.
Q: What inspires your in your work?
A: A long of things inspire me, starting from people, colours, arts... You may get inspired even if you go out in the street, see so many different things, and hoops! You get an idea.
Q: What would you say about your style? Is it in anyway similar to any other style?
A: Lots of people note that some of my hats look like Mongolian one. But when you are a designer, you get an idea from many different cultures. I design 300 hats a year and certainly not everything will generate from your head. But it is like seeing many cultures, many countries, but brewing it everything in your head to produce your own piece.
Q: More people wear your hats in New York rather than in your home town. Does not that somewhat upset you?
A: I would like to say that I wish people in Georgia could appreciate what I do. I love my work and I want Georgians too love it as well. I know that people know me in New York, but if Georgians too start doing it I will feel more comfortable.
Source: http://www.geotimes.ge/index.php?m=home&newsid=606
SAMANTHA[/url] |
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