About

About

Niav Riley Millinery label was established in 2003. After many very successful years in the business with many Race Meeting Winners, and a steady flow of returning and new clients, the label Niav Riley had secured a strong position in the designer marketplace.

However an evolving business must always listen to what the clients wants, and about 10 years ago many enquiries started to trickle in asking me if I taught Millinery. I had never considered this as a direction for the business to travel in, but I listened and provided. 

The History

I was raised in an artistic household. My mother was an art teacher and landscape painter, and my father a freelance writer and entrepreneur. Art and craft, combined with business, were very strong influences in my childhood. It was always a foregone conclusion that this would be the path that I would follow.


In 1995 I graduated with an Honours degree in Fashion Design from the National College of Art and Design, Dublin. Since then I worked as a children’s wear and women’s wear designer for a few Irish companies. I worked as a women’s wear designer and stylist on photo-shoots for 3 years in Sydney, where I also studied Graphic Design, allowing me to work on brochure and magazine layout.


In 2000 on my return to Dublin, I decided to follow my interest in Graphic Design and worked in Animation for 3 years. During this period I missed the ‘hands on’ enjoyment from Craft work, and I developed an interest in making headpieces for myself and friends.


I attended a variety millinery courses in London , before taking a big Leap of Faith into setting up my own business in 2003.  It is a decision that I have never regretted.


After many very successful years in the Millinery business with many Race Meeting Winners, and a steady flow of returning and new private clients and a long list of shops that I supplied, the brand Niav Riley had secured a strong position in the designer marketplace.


However an evolving business must always listen to what the clients wants, and in 2014 many enquiries started to trickle in asking me if I taught Millinery. I had never considered this as a direction for the business to travel in, but I listened and provided.

Now the business is thriving in a completely new direction. Originally I provided weekday lessons, which expanded into weekend workshops as demand grew. As a result of these classes and workshops another aspect of the business grew – competitively priced Hat blocks to help aspiring Milliners get started. Over the past couple of years I have worked closely with a 3 craftsmen to develop a well priced quality product, and that range is constantly expanding.


‘Teaching Millinery is something that I love to do. I feel privileged to have had so many students through my doors – many having returned multiple times traveling from all over Ireland and the United Kingdom’.


I like to make it easy, enjoyable and inclusive. As you will see, so many of my students are thriving with their own Millinery businesses. I look forward to meeting you at one of my classes soon!

The Future

2023 Market Square Studios

I have spent this year refurbishing a 200-year-old building in the centre of the pretty little village of Ballinakill, Co. Laois. A place where I can re-house my own studio and also offer a studio, treatment room or office space to other small/start-up enterprises.

We hope to re-establish many of the group meetings, workshops and classes that took place at the Creative Space Studio before Covid!

Looking forward to seeing you here,

Niav

Please email me if you are interested in viewing a room/studio space.

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