In October 1996, after working with milliners in London and New York, Jennifer Ouellette created a company in which she is now proud. Today, the beautiful and meticulous details that set Jennifer Ouellette’s designs apart are responsibly produced in her private studios located in New York City and Santiago, Dominican Republic.Jennifer’s sense of design began during childhood days spent in her mother’s vintage clothing store in St. Louis, Missouri. She graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia, majoring in Textile and Apparel Management & Costume Design. She continues to combine her passion for vintage fashion with her modern New York City style. Using her needle and thread as an artist uses pencil and paint, she applies her manual sewing techniques to her millinery sculptures with loving detail.
In 1999, she was granted a US patent for the development of a unique headband design and construction, which greatly increases comfort and value. Her sustainable approach to her design proves she is a recycling artist. “I get creative when I start to clean my studio, reinventing our scraps is my expertise. I am content when we have zero waste.”
In February 2008, her City Scape Headpiece was selected by her mentor to be included in his exhibit, Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones, which opened at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The V&A touring exhibit will open in New York City September 2011 at Bard Graduate Center. Jennifer Ouellette is also the inspiration for the character in the upcoming feature “Half the Perfect World” to be released Sept 2011.
Jennifer Ouellette’s work is included fashion’s best periodicals around the world and her loyal customers demand more than shallow trends to compliment their style. Her designs are full of vitality and innovation, with inspirations from history, science and nature.
