Rhiannon Mackie at the Barnes Store Cafe where a collection of her fascinators are currently on display.
Harden lady Rhiannon Mackie of Odette Millinery is a woman of many talents. In addition, to producing bespoke, hand-crafted millinery for formal occasions, she is currently a Social Work student and is working with the NSW Department of Family and Community Services. Yet, she still finds the time to put her impressive skills to good use. Rhiannon took up millinery two years ago, and she says that it is a natural progression from the skills her mother taught her when she was younger.
‘’[Millinery] is a bit of a hobby. It is different to what I do for a job,” she said. “It is creative and fun.” Despite it being a hobby, Rhiannon’s range of fascinators and hats cleaned up at the 2015 Harden Murrumburrah Springtime Show, taking home all of the First and Second Places in their categories. Now, her range is in high demand. “I currently have enquiries coming in from Yass, but I really want to make my hats and fascinators available locally,” she said. “I would rather that people have them, instead of stashing them at the back of my cupboard.”
She says that the market for fascinators is divided between high end pieces worth hundreds of dollars and cheap, poor quality pieces available from large retail outlets. “I don’t charge exorbitantly, it’s not about that,” said Rhiannon. “I enjoy making them and I want people to enjoy wearing them.” Rhiannon’s works are currently on display at the Barnes Store, and she can be contacted via her Odette Millinery Facebook page.
