Cambridge resident Georgia McNab has always had a passion for fashion.
Her keen interest in style carried her across the country to study fashion design at Blanche Macdonald, an internationally recognized college for creative and applied arts.
Then, one day she caught herself staring at her hat collection on the wall. It was that moment in time that steered her towards the art of millinery.
A milliner, in layman terms, is a person who makes or sells women's hats.
“As much as I like sewing and garment construction, there was something just missing,” McNab said.
“It’s a very personal and intimate accessory.”
After taking a course in Toronto in 2018 on the intricate details of hat making she started her business, Off the Block, in 2022.
The types of hats McNab crafts at her new store located in the old Ray Electric Building on Parkhill Rd E. are no run of the mill chapeaus. Each one has the ability to be custom made to highlight the personality and fashionable flare of the person who wears it.
“People should expect something that is completely customized, they have the ability to create whatever they dream up,” McNab said.
“It really comes down to inspiration. I always tell people to look on Pinterest, look at tattoo designs if you’re looking for pyrography on your hat.”
McNab typically works with rabbit and beaver furs and loves using the wood burning tool.
In order to understand the needs of each customer, she runs a consultation to get to know what they're looking for.
“We talk about colour and the shape you want,” she said.
“I’ll measure your head and suggest based on your face shape what kind of hat you should be looking for and how wide the brim should be. It’s very detail oriented. Then we talk about the process and your overall vision.”
There’s been an emergence of the arts over the past several years in the city. Off the Block and Open Space Studios, a creative arts space, have both moved into the building in recent months. It’s something McNab believes is a positive and helping diversify the city.
“I think something that’s important about Cambridge is that a lot of people think there aren't a lot of artists in this city but it’s very up-and-coming,” she said.
“There’s a lot of people who are deep rooted here and want to see Cambridge change. They’re entrepreneurs and starting businesses trying to better the city and the surrounding areas. Born and raised here I want to see it flourish and I want to see it develop into something more than what it was when we were raised. It’s nice to have opportunities here and different artisan markets.”
McNab continues to build her customer base. She’s had clients from all over Canada and has even expanded into the United States.
Those interested in purchasing a hat can book a consultation through Off the Block’s Instagram page @_offtheblock_ or through their website at offtheblock.ca.
