It seems nowadays more and more hat boxes, collecting dust on the top shelves of closets across the West Shore, are protecting trinkets and not the grand headpieces they are meant to house.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 a problem one Colwood woman wants to draw attention to and entice as many women as she can into the wonderful world of hats.
Maria Curcic spends a large portion of her day in her home studio, sculpting fabrics into ladies hats and headpieces.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a lot of detail B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 like little works of art,B次元官网网址� she noted.
With more celebrities wearing fedoras and fascinators being seen at more than just royal weddings and the Kentucky Derby, womenB次元官网网址檚 headwear is surging in popularity.
B次元官网网址淚 was making (fascinators) and wearing it in the late B次元官网网址�80s B次元官网网址� Nobody knew what it was,B次元官网网址� she said with a laugh. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 sort of a lost art thatB次元官网网址檚 coming out B次元官网网址� people are embracing it.B次元官网网址�
Curcic displayed some of her creations recently at the Deighton Cup at Hastings Racetrack in Vancouver. The day-long event hosted roughly 4,000 derby revellers, sporting their finest headpieces and silk bow ties. B次元官网网址淚t was really nice to see everyone dressed up to the nines.B次元官网网址� Many women in attendance even made their own headpieces, which added to her delight. B次元官网网址淵ou can make anything out of any material. If you have the idea, the skyB次元官网网址檚 the limit.B次元官网网址�
While some of her delicate Deighton Cup creations only lasted the day B次元官网网址� some barely survived for the main event B次元官网网址� the fact so many people embraced their creativity makes Curcic bubble with excitement. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 soothing for the soul,B次元官网网址� she added.
In her own creations she likes to incorporate found items whenever possible. B次元官网网址淚 want them to be different; I donB次元官网网址檛 want them to be mainstream. IB次元官网网址檓 playing with weird and wild things.B次元官网网址�
On a bike ride about 10 years ago, Curcic came across a pile of large brown feathers, probably from a juvenile bald eagle or a hawk. Without a backpack or saddle bag handy, she had no way to transport them down the trail. B次元官网网址淚 threw them in my jacket B次元官网网址� I had these feathers sticking out around my neck while IB次元官网网址檓 mountain biking down this hill.B次元官网网址� She laughed as she recalled the crazy ride, the occasional feather flying out.
Stored for years, the plumes called to her recently and she created a headpiece from them. Curcic likes to incorporate found items and vintage fabrics into her designs and saves the tiniest scrapes of those precious materials. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 have a lot of waste and what I do have I give to other artists,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲hen you give it to another artist they find something new B次元官网网址� One creative thing inspires another.B次元官网网址�
CurcicB次元官网网址檚 creative background isnB次元官网网址檛 just limited to her time spent outdoors collecting items to use in her work. B次元官网网址淚 was born in Paris and I grew up (there),B次元官网网址� she said, a smile pulling at her bright red lips. B次元官网网址淚 love vintage style. IB次元官网网址檓 really sort of retro.B次元官网网址� Her outfit on this day, a powder blue dress with red flowers, is no shy reference to that love of vintage fashion. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been collecting vintage clothes since I was 12,B次元官网网址� an admittedly odd hobby for a child.
As the daughter of a seamstress, she noted that fashion is in her blood. CurcicB次元官网网址檚 mother, B次元官网网址渁 stylish lady,B次元官网网址� was the kind of person that could drape a piece of fabric over a sewing mannequin and see a garment unfold in front of her, no pattern required. It was a skill that still leaves Curcic in awe.
Her own designs range from what she described as B次元官网网址渁vant-gardeB次元官网网址� to the casual, with something for everyone. She also has a funeral line in the works. B次元官网网址淎 lot of Europeans wear the veiling and you canB次元官网网址檛 find that here,B次元官网网址� she said.
On the other end of the spectrum, she creates many pieces for weddings, although theyB次元官网网址檙e not your typical marriage celebrations. B次元官网网址淢ost of my clients are artists like me,B次元官网网址� she said, noting that the brides are more likely to be wearing a pink dress than a white one.
Sharing them with collectors around the world, Curcic posts photos of her hand-crafted pieces of wearable art to her website once complete. While her headpieces B次元官网网址� and other accessories B次元官网网址� are for sale, she also has a rental program that offers different options for four-day rentals. More information on her collections and rental options can be found at mariacurcic.com.
But the most important thing Curcic hopes to inspire with her designs is creativity in others.
B次元官网网址淧eople get so caught up in their devices they donB次元官网网址檛 see the beauty all around,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 want to miss out on that, because thatB次元官网网址檚 what makes us human. We should be absorbing that.B次元官网网址�
Her home is a space that looks to inspire creativity in all that she does. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 how I live my life,B次元官网网址� she said, smiling. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a one-woman show.B次元官网网址�
katie@goldstreamgazette.com
