MIMC 2021: People's Choice Award Winner
Maria Etkind
“Jazz Funeral” This hat was designed to honor New Orleanians who have died due to Covid 19.
Concept Development:
When I decided to enter the MIMC hat competition last fall I wasn’t sure what hat design I wanted to create. The theme this year was “little black dress”. I started thinking about what a little black dress meant to me. My first thought was, “What are we supposed to celebrate during this pandemic?” I kept just thinking about wearing a black dress to a funeral. I remembered reading the news in April of 2020 that Ellis Marsalis a famous New Orleans jazz musician, mentor and icon had died from COVID. His family wasn’t going to be able to have a “jazz funeral”. Back in April, New Orleans was leading the nation in COVID cases and the majority of deaths were and still are in the African American community. I knew I had to make a hat honoring all the people that have died of COVID and other causes and couldn’t have a proper funeral. I wanted to make a hat that celebrates life.
I knew that I would have to ship the hat to Melbourne, Australia. This meant that I had to keep the hat small due to international shipping cost! In the US the cost scales with the dimensions of the box, not just the weight. I knew I had to keep my cost down, so the hat had to be small. I also knew I had to allow 4-6 weeks for the hat to get there. As you might remember the USPS had collapsed this past holiday season do to high demand! My work began in early Dec., so that my hat would arrive before the deadline which was the first week February.
“Once a person is buried, you have the second line. It’s the party, the good time, the celebration of life,” Marsalis said. “It’s a community’s responsibility to celebrate the life of someone. Even if I didn’t know them, I pull out my umbrella, get my best dancing shoes on, and we’re gonna have a good time.”
Melbourne International Milliners Competition:
The MIMC hat competition 2021 had a total of 80 entries from all over the world this year. It was great to see that 3 of my fellow Milliners Guild members and friends also participated. I was honored to be in the top 20 finalists. The top 20 announcement was made LIVE on their MIMC Instagram social media account and can be watched on their IGTV. The finalist were then announced on Feb. 21 also via IGTV. You can watch it here.
I am happy to announce that I won People’s Choice Award! This award is given to the milliner that gets the most email votes!
Thank you to all who voted for me and verified their emails!
My artist statement: Jazz Funeral (Entry 28)
When people die in New Orleans, their families and friends celebrate their passing with a “jazz funeral” by filling the streets with music – a celebration of the person’s life as much as a mourning of their death. The brass band starts playing sad music but soon the procession turns into a joyous celebration and everybody dances as they become part of the “second line”. The hat “Jazz Funeral” was created to honor New Orleanians who died due to COVID. The colors purple/black symbolize spirituality, creativity, royalty and mourning.
The process of making the competition a couture hat:
Starting the blocking several layers of straw, putting together the trim and starting the feather pompom.
Trying on the hat and adding the trim, cutting lots of ostrich feathers to create a pom pom, finsihing the lining.
It takes a village
A huge THANK YOU to Catherine and Team Essential, Melbourne International Millinery Competition, Presented by The Essential Hat and the judges; Todd Anthony, Lauren Ritchie and Philip Rhodes.
Photo Credits: @mimc_competition
Photographer: Stavros Sakellaris @stavrofoto
Stylist: @two.sewing.sisters
Location: @lcimelbourne
Model: @_simran._
HAMU: @tcamakeup_hmua
Also a big thank you to my family, friends and fellow milliners for voting for me! I wouldn’t be here with out your love and support!
You can watch Dr. John’s jazz funeral (2019):
Dr. John Second Line following his Memorial Celebration at the Orpheum Theater.