WEARINGIRISH showcases top designers/brands from Ireland. In this series, meet the designers and hear their stories. Here Margaret chats with John Shevlin of Shevlin Millinery. Visit shevlin.ie for more!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND. Shevlin Millinery started in 1960, in Dublin, as P.Shevlin Ltd, Millinery Manufacturers. It was a hat making company started by my late father. I grew up with hats around me; I also spent a few years in general clothing production, the experience of which has remained with me to this day. WHAT WAS THE MOST DEFINING MOMENT OF YOUR CAREER? I think it was probably getting the contract to design and produce the Aer Lingus uniform hat for the couturier Ib Jorgensen’s uniform design in the ’80s. It was a more substantial contract than I had expected, and I had a panic moment wondering how I was going to produce the initial order! WHAT’S YOUR AMBITION FOR YOUR BRAND? My ambition for my designs is to create and produce quality hats that can be worn for both everyday wear and special occasions worldwide. HOW YOU WOULD DEFINE THE HEART AND SOUL OF YOUR BRAND? I think the heart and soul of my brand is the passion I have for producing what I produce.
WHERE DOES YOUR BRAND NAME COME FROM? The brand name comes from my family name, Shevlin. WHO IS YOUR DREAM MUSE? WHY? It would have to be Jean Butler, because she is a most glamorous Irish ambassador. YOUR DREAM COLLABORATION? My dream collaboration would be with Liberty London. WHAT INSPIRES YOU ABOUT THE WEARINGIRISH MOVEMENT? The WEARINGIRISH movement is a fantastic promoter of Irish fashion and jewellery. WHO DO YOU WANT TO WEAR IRISH? All ladies and gentlemen who appreciate modern-day Irish quality. TAKE US THROUGH YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS. My creative process starts with a shape in my mind and not with a pen and paper. Hats are about the silhouette, and I prefer to work directly with the material and to experiment with the ideas in my head. HOW DOES A SENSE OF PLACE INFORM YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS— SPECIFICALLY IRELAND? My sense of place is vital to me, being Irish and proud to be Irish. I have never really wanted to live in another country, and home is where the heart is, as they say. I want to be known as an Irish designer and maker of hats that have both local and international appeal. WHAT DOES BEING IRISH MEAN TO YOU AND IN WHAT WAY HAS IT INFLUENCED YOUR CREATIONS? Being Irish for me is very important as the Irish have a strong identity and history. In my hat making career, I have a strong history, and I’m proud of that. Ireland has become a leader on the world stage in several areas, and for such a small country we have a vast global influence in all walks of life. I also want to be a leader in my field. MOST COVETED ITEM IN YOUR COLLECTION? The most coveted item in my collection is my leopard print classic trilby. THREE THINGS YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT? Good food, good company…and a good sewing machine! YOUR GO-TO STYLING TRICK? The trick is to look at how a hat looks on a real head; failing that, seeing how it looks on a head and shoulders bust. TELL US ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF THAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT I DIDN’T ASK. I am well known as a James Joyce lookalike, and I’m the most photographed person on Bloomsday!