“Rennie’s Rose is an ode to Charles Rennie Mackintosh. I have always loved the Glasgow School, and this exhibition was the perfect fit for the design I had in mind. The inspiration comes from the textile work Mackintosh created, often in collaboration with his wife, Margaret MacDonald, and my passion for structural gravity-defining headwear.
I chose a specific sample of textiles that incorporated his iconic rose but also had the rigorous grid structure typical of his architectural and furniture style. The Japanese influence that initiated his love for pure and clean lines met my passion for Japanese culture and aesthetics, and this is how Rennie’s Rose was born.
To fit with the theme of sustainability, I chose to use only vintage materials that I already had in my studio; I wanted to show that using old/vintage materials doesn’t mean having to make a traditional-looking hat.
I found the perfect pink rayon net to make the rose, a moorish silk velvet ribbon to create the oval leaves, a glitzy black cord to create the flat pattern decor, and the most incredible antique gold embroidery plate to finish off the details of the rose. A bit of black velvet cotton (a staple in every millinery studio) was perfect for covering the vintage weights I have used to balance the structure and to cover the back of the rose. The only small concession to modernity was the use of embroidery threads and strong millinery wire.
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Sustainability at Giulia Mio Millinery
Sustainability has always been an integral part of my practice.
Since I decided to become a milliner, I have always been attracted by the idea of creating unique pieces, using traditional materials and techniques, scouting and sourcing fabrics and random "stuff" that was not produced anymore but belonged to the world of hat making (or shall we say, it did?) in the past. Being sustainable is not just about using old things to make hats; for me, it is about bringing them to new life and giving them a new purpose so they don't lie rotting in a box somewhere. In a world where we're constantly producing and consuming, I want to ensure that what I contribute has a meaningful story to tell.
Each piece I create has a unique narrative, a history that's been repurposed, and I hope it will bring an unexpected smile to someone's face.
About Giulia Mio
photo by Sammy at Isoelegant Photography
Giulia Mio is an Italian, award winning couture milliner devoted to making hats and headpieces from the finest materials, with an immaculate finish. Her hats and headpieces are sculptural, delicate, feminine and elegant. Her style is the result of a blend between Fashion and observation of Nature, with a significant influence coming also from Fine Arts, with her love for the unexpected and uncanny. She studied Set and Costume design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice and Milan.
She has been trained as traditional milliner, but she has always been interested in new techniques and innovative materials and the combination of these elements allow Giulia to free her inspiration from conventions, ranging from classic and timeless hats to crazy and full of details artistic pieces. Giulia has become quite known for her exquisite silk and leather flowers, completely hand-painted and hand-made, which adorn many of her creations.