A designer's heads up - Hot Spot - By Bunn - Brief Article

He was born in Trinidad, but considers himself a "die-hard New Yorker" having designed hats in Brooklyn for 15 years. "I came here when I was a teenager," says the milliner known as Bunn (pictured below). "I call this home." Five years ago, Bunn decided to move uptown to Harlem where a number of black designers and clothiers have also opened boutiques, either for the first time or as an extension of their line. Hats. By Bunn. recently opened at 2283 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard in Harlem. "There's a lot happening up here," says Bunn. "And it's becoming a great place for fashion. And it makes sense: This is where it all began."

All hats are custom and hand made by Bunn to suit the design tastes or the special sizing of the client. There are also many hats on display in his shop Bunn's designs are seasonal: His winter creations are constructed from furs, wool, felts, and chenille. This spring and summer, his designs feature a variety of ribbon, velvet, and five types of straw. "We're infusing a lot of color," he explains. Bunn's list of clients include singers Dawn Penn and Aaron Neville. "With war and our depressed economy, I want to make my hats light, easy-flowing, earthy, colorful, and vibrant." Prices start at $75. For more information, call 212-694-3590.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Earl G. Graves Publishing Co., Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group