NEEDLE AND THREAD

By JO, January 15, 2019

The beautiful and meticulous details that set Jennifer Ouellette’s designs apart are skillfully replicated by her talented staff.  She personally teaches her production team her special techniques, many passed down to her from generations of milliners.

Jennifer uses her needle and thread as an artist uses pencil and paint.   The hand stitching inside of her designs are as equally important to her as the quality.  Her designs often include decorative (or exposed) colored threads.  Contrasting threads are simple design concept, but one that blends well with her nostalgic taste.  “Its always a rewarding feeling to make something by hand. By hand sewing, I have more control over communicating my vision.  For me, its like drawing” said Jennifer.

Most of Jennifer’s creations require more handwork than machine sewing.  The majority of her staff use hand stitching almost exclusively.  She much prefers to build trims instead of using pre-fabricated embellishments.  The trimmings are made from traditional and non-traditional millinery materials.   She and her team source the globe for new fabrics.  Her fabrics and findings are imported from Switzerland, Ecuador, England, and the Czech Republic.

Jennifer’s talented staff, these techniques and the materials they gather from around the work culminate in producing her art.