Laois milliner Pamela Curtin is known far and wide with her pieces shown on Xpose, donned by Rose of Tralee contestants and regularly seen on the best-dressed circuit.
We recently spoke with Pamela about how she started out, challenging work environments and the celebrity that left her star struck!
When did you know you wanted to be a designer?
My career started nine years ago when I started hat hire Portlaoise that’s when I knew I wanted to be a milliner. I started experimenting with hats and fascinators after that I went on milliner courses and trained to be a milliner.
Have you ever been starstruck by someone you met?
The only person that I have ever been starstruck by was Gay Byrne!
What does the usual work day for you involve?
I start my day everyday by putting the hats that I’m making on hat blocks and taking the ones that are dry so I can start working on them.
What’s the most challenging work environment you’ve been in?
The most challenging work environment is the Ploughing Championships, with three fashion shows every day for three days. Also the month of August is extremely busy for me as I design headpieces and fascinators for the Rose of Tralee this year. I designed pieces for; The Laois Rose, the New York Rose the Florida Rose and the Abu Dhabi rose.
If you had any advice to someone getting into your field of work, what would it be?
It is very hard work, but when you see the designs at the end and when the ladies send you a picture with the hat that you designed on them it’s all worth it.
What makes a good designer?
A good designer always uses good quality materials.
What has been the highlight of your working career?
The highlights of my career have to be when the hats I designed won at the Kilbeggan Races twice and also when my hat won first place in the Shelbourne Races Best Dressed Lady competition.
