Originally published: May/June 2010 Vows Magazine
Photos: Bovio hat makers and Great Great Grandfather Gennaro Bovio
Boutique de Voile, headquartered in Long Island, N.Y., is the name behind custom-made wedding veils, tiaras, headpieces and hair jewelry.
Boutique de Voile currently distributes products to custom clients that include couture wedding salons, gown designers and stylists in the U.S. and abroad.
The brand was launched in 2001 by designer Robin Mayer.
“The need to create beautiful pieces for women runs in my family,” Mayer said, “From 1940’s to the 1960’s my great aunt Mary Bovio designed pillbox hats sold at Saks Fifth Avenue and Bonwit Teller. They were worn by Jackie Kennedy and other celebrities.”
Many boutique de Voile products have been featured in Conde Nast Travel Magazine, New York Magazine’s Bridal Edition, World bride, Russian Bride, Long Island Bride and Groom and Style Me Pretty, to name a few.
-
- Gennaro and his brother, Vincent designed the hats and managed the factory of dedicated artisans. Later, Gennaro’s son, Joseph and his wife, Mary Bovio took the reign in the late 1940’s through the 1960’s.
-
- 1940’s through the 1960’s. Great Aunt Mary Bovio designed hats for Jaqueline Kennedy, including the one worn on that fateful day President Kennedy perished. The hat was never recovered.
-
- Second Great Uncle Gennaro Bovio, founder of Bovio Brothers Hat Factory in the early 1900s thru 1950s in New York City