Visiting Gillis in Brussels
October 27, 2009Today I had a wonderful experience. We’re visiting my brother and his family in Brussels and of course I had to look up a millinery. I found by accident Gillis & Sr on 17 rue du Lombard. The owner was happy to know that I also make hats and we talked about today’s trends we see in hats and I was invited down in the basement where they work with the blocks. They have over a hundred blocks which origin from all decades since 1910. Fantastic!
Thanks for a very special moment in Brussels!
Gillis is still working with traditional techniques in felt and straw and I enjoyed seeing shapes that I had seen in other milliner shops with tradition. They have a nice and strict style, where the ribbons contrast the felt. Completely in my taste!
It must have been a wonderful experience… particularly nice to find someone willing to let you see their workroom!
We hatmakers have to stick together and keep the spririt up. It is so easy to fall into competitive thaughts. But I always say: “Hey! There has never ever been so many empty heads to fill in the world as right now, and one milliner can’t do the job!”