About
Oscar & Willow Millinery, the luxury hat and headwear brand, is the creation of award-winning designer and milliner Fleur Curtis. Despite initially starting as a hobby, millinery became Fleur’s passion after having dedicating 22 years to working in the NHS, first as an auxiliary nurse and later as a Physician Associate in Cardiology. In 2021, Fleur realised her dream by opening the doors to her shop and studio, marking the beginning of an exciting and busy journey since!
Fleur has been fortunate to receive recognition for her work in millinery with several awards over the past few years, including The Feltmakers Design Awards in 2021 and 2023, and The British Hat Guild Award in 2023.
Fleur uses both traditional blocking techniques, as well as modern freeform sculptural millinery techniques. Each hat and headpiece are sewn by hand in the Shrewsbury studio. Diligence to detail, quality, creating unique designs and getting to know her clients is what Fleur adores about millinery. Mostly Fleur loves to help people feel confident and look their best.
Fleur states “It’s so satisfying to see someone’s whole demeanour, posture and confidence change when they try on a hat or headpiece that expresses who they are, or how they would like to feel. It’s like creating a wearable piece of magic!”
There are always new techniques to be learned in millinery, which keeps Fleur inspired and passionate about what she does. She also feels it is so important in this age of advancing technology and machinery to keep traditional craftmanship alive.