Life and Work with Jennifer Kofler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Kofler.

Jennifer lived in Asia for 12 years and Vivian Blooms has an uncommon beginning. She had a revelation when she and her daughter Vivian traveled from Mainland China to Hong Kong to sell handmade crafts at a weekend market. It was typhoon season in the region and an afternoon storm had forced them to retire from the sale early. From the shelter of the nearby hotel, Jennifer saw a scene that would change the focus of her creative career. A wedding was taking place in the hotel.

“I was amazed by the beautiful array of hats and fascinators that the women were wearing. They were a delight to see. It was a fanciful display of crystals, feathers, flowers, and bows. I suddenly felt inspired. I want to bring joy to people, and a hat changes so much of how a person acts and feels”.

After seeing this wonderful scene, Jennifer went home with a spark of inspiration and her new business began to bloom. Jennifer now operates Vivian Blooms out of her studio in Boulder, Colorado where she designs delightful headpieces for all occasions. The brand delivers creations to personal clients, boutique owners and designers alike. Vivian Blooms has sold in London, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Due to the handmade nature of these products, supplies are limited.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My advice to any young person looking to go into a career as a designer in a creative enterprise would be to “commit and then just keep going.” No one has the power to stop you reaching your goal but you yourself. It should live in your heart and in your dreams. The excitement and obsession for me is in the discovery of the final product.

I believe in filling my head with images and creative options. I then allow those thoughts to give me choices of which way to go and will inevitably lead me further down the path of discovery. If there is something that you love and are interested in pursuing, I say go for it, and simply do not stop.

Please tell us about Vivian Blooms.
When I was 18, I left home to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I’ve been an artist ever since. Becoming a milliner- a person who designs, makes, trims or sells women’s hats– is a natural extension of my art and desire to bring art into women’s everyday lives. I have been involved in London Hat Week for the past three years, which is an entire week celebration and classes for the international community of milliners taking place in London. My millinery has helped women win the best-dressed awards in multiple years at the Shanghai Melbourne Cup. I was the Corporate Sponsored milliner for the Sasa Ladies Purse Day in Hong Kong in November of 2018.

The latest and most exciting event will be a Pop Up Hat Shop in Denver, Colorado at Shop Mona Lucero, 126 West 12th Street. I have teamed up with Miss Victoria Riegina to create “The Mavens of Millinery” a collective group of 7 Colorado women milliners. The Pop Hat Up Shop creates a unique opportunity for anyone to shop for hats and headpieces from exclusive designers. The designers include Miss Victoria Riegina, Frontier Millinery, Hatsafrass, Ella James Hattery, Haven Hats and Vivian Blooms. Opportunities to have a custom bespoke headpiece made will also be available.

Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
I think that women are in a good position now. There are many opportunities for the brave, creative and ambitious. Live your dream and go for it!

Pricing:

• Price range from $50.00 for headbands up to $350.00 for unique designer hats and headpieces
• Bespoke prices are available upon request

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vivianblooms.com
• Phone: 7203620480
• Email: inquiries@vivianblooms.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jennifer.kofler.vivianblooms/ 

Image Credit:
Maggie MacPhie, Diana Flores Orozco, Foxxxxxxxie, Olivia Lagerholm, Richard Cummings, Iva Dostal

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