| By Alina R. Cabral
When we speak of luxury fashion, we often think of gorgeous and dazzling gowns, elegant handbags and classy-trendy shoes, but in most occasions, dressing up in beautiful gowns doesn’t mean one is complete, unless, of course, a stunning headpiece made by Anilu Oms, a lovely designer residing in Miami, accents the outfit.
Headpieces have been a tradition of the Royal Family and many well known celebrities who has worked the likes of England’s headpiece designer, Philip Treacy, however, meeting Anilu Oms has left me thinking that perhaps Philip Treacy has something to worry ...Anilu, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Anilu Oms Fashion Millinery is a manifestation of my background as a designer. My headpieces are eclectic and avant garde, I use many natural fibers, leaves, seeds, organza and feathers. Sometimes I include embroidery with beads, synthetic materials and three branches. My works is very connected to nature.
My training as a graphic designer and costume designer greatly influence my work. I love working with my hands. I treat my headpieces like sculptures. The woman who wears my headpieces is refine, and elegant, loves and appreciate art.
What is your greatest career accomplishment so far?
I have presented my headpieces in Tokyo Fashion Week 2010, China, Shanghai Expo 2010, Chicago and Houston Fashion Week 2011, and the various seasons of fashion Week in NY since 2007.
Anilu Oms
"An Exceptional Designer"
2004 - 2011 © ADMS Publishing Group, LLC, All Rights Reserved 
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HOME TRENDS
Where are you from? Did your upbringing influence your design aesthetic?
I was born in Havana, Cuba, and island with bright sunlight, and very defined strong colors. My Upbringing and education strongly influenced me as a designer. I grow up listening to classical music and being taken to the theater for plays and concerts. My mother was always dress up. I remember her pearls, her high heel shoes, and her Diorisimo perfume; waiting for my father to arrive from abroad as he was and international pilot. My grandmother who had great ability with her hands was a very accomplished embroiderer. She studied painting at a very well known academy of art. In her house you could find all kinds of treasures like the collection of fashionable hats from the 30’s and 40’s that I discovered in mint condition when I was a child. I could never imagined that they would be the inspiration for the first efforts in my work as a costume designer, and that the theatrical magic of those elegant hats would come to define my style. The cinema magazines, and the moving pictures of Hollywood’ golden era were the daily diet at home. All of that background influenced my future.
Which designers do you find inspirational?
I love Philip Treacy, his career trajectory. His work is quite an inspiration. He is responsible for almost all collections of Alexander McQueen, and even though his aesthetics has nothing to do with mine, is always inspiring to see what he does.
Did you always know that you wanted to become a designer? How did you make the choice to design headpieces?
I have always leaned toward the arts and design. I took classes in architecture, interior design and graphic design. When I graduated from graphic design my husband asked me to be the costume designer for the music video he was directing. This experience opened the doors of the television, film and theater. But my career as a milliner is another story, my daughter, the young fashion designer based in NY Fabiola Arias asked me to help her in a fashion show when she was still student at Parsons, and I though it would be a good idea to create headpieces to complement the beautiful dresses, so I fill out my bag with all sort of tools and materials and I flew to NY. Since then I make the headpieces for all of her collections.
What plans do you have for your company for the future?
In the future I would like to expand into other markets and besides, who would not like to see their hats on the heads of royalty!
For those of you who would love to see more of Anilu’s beautiful creations, visit her at http://www.aniluoms.com. | Complimentary Photos & Said Basse Photography
