Jay Kay now Wearing Georgian Designer’s Hat


The Jamiroquai frontman, who set a jazz fire in Tbilisi last week and is known for his obsession with wacky headgear, got one more wonderful piece for his collection. As he was about to rush to the concert in Tbilisi Philharmonic Hall and gave a press conference for journalists. But the organizers of the concert had one more surprise for him: The Georgian Designer Nini K presented two hats to Jay Kay, a soviet-style pointy hat with red star and a somewhat green Mongolian type hat with fur which he immediately put on. Jay Kay did non know Nini K before, although on of his 70is hat was produced by her, but Jay Kay is not the only celebrity who wears Nini K's headgear. Nini K designs are very popular among celebrity clientele and trensetters like Beonce, Uma Thurman, Bette Midler, Erica Badu, Quinn Latifah and many others. Currently based in New York, Nini K's hats are sold in US and Europe, in Bergdorf Goodman, Selima Optiques, Searles, Hat Shop, Roslyn's, Upper Class and other high=end stores. Nini K has her own shop in Tbilisi as well. I caught up with her in that very own shop, which is a tiny world of hats, accessories, clothes, the world of colours and diversity.
Nini K: ''You know, this all started as a hobby and became a kind of profession. At first I was making hats for my friends and family members. Then a friend of mine showed my hats to a store in New York. I had a very small collection sold in just a week or so. Now I usually make 600 hats in winter and they are selling really well.
Q: Do you view your work as business or art?
A: Oh no, it's art for me. I have no clue for  business. My cousin who lives in New York, Helps me out when it comes about invoices and staff like that.
Q: Who are your customers?
A: I have all kind of different customers, young and old. Even very old people love my hats, because they are very sophisticated. Some of them are pretty crazy so the cliantele ranges in all ages. Guys that I know often ask me when I am going to start working on man's collection, because they really love hats. 
Q: What would you say about your style? Is it in any way similar to any other style?
A: Lots of people note that some of my hats look like Mongolian one, but when you are a designer, you get an idea from many different cultures. I design 200 hats a year and certainly not every style is going to generate from your head. It is like seeing many cultures, many country's, but brewing it everything in your head to produce your own piece.