About Us

Vivean, the founder of Brynels British Millinery, wearing a black outfit with a decorative headpiece against a white background

Vivean Pomell: The Vision Behind the Brim

Vivean Viola Pomell is the creative force and master artisan behind Brynels British Millinery. Every bespoke hat and designer headpiece she creates is handcrafted with precision, passion, and a deep sense of purpose, always made with the wearer in mind. She is the heartbeat of everything synonymous with Brynels: legacy, love, and luxury.

Renowned among British milliners, Vivean continues to redefine the art of bespoke millinery. Her timeless heritage hats for women blend traditional craftsmanship with modern artistry, showcasing meticulous detailing and elegance that transcends trends.

It is this vision, and her unwavering pursuit of excellence, that has earned her recognition on the runways of London Fashion Week and features in Ebony Magazine and national press.

At Brynels, Vivean’s work is more than design, it is an enduring expression of vision, heritage, and artistry.

“Brynels stands for creations that are elegant in form, purposeful in detail, and rooted in legacy. Each hat reflects timeless British craftsmanship, honouring tradition while embracing modernity. Our purpose is simple, to craft headwear that inspires confidence and enduring style.”

Vivean Viola Pomell

Founder and Creative Director

At Brynels our work is guided by four core values that shape everything we create

Our Values

We embrace Inclusivity, drawing inspiration from diverse cultures and traditions so every individual finds a design that resonates with them. Through Quality Craftsmanship, we honour the art of millinery with meticulous detail and the finest materials, ensuring both elegance and durability. We believe in Empowerment, where each hat becomes a symbol of confidence and individuality. Finally, our Environmental Responsibility drives us to source sustainably and practice ethically, ensuring that our legacy of style also contributes to a more conscious and beautiful world.

Elegant. Purposeful. Rooted in legacy.

Our Mission

Brynels Millinery is on a mission to redefine formal headwear for the modern era. Guided by our passion for style and sustainability, we create hats that celebrate individuality, honor British craftsmanship, and inspire conscious fashion choices. From bespoke designs to sustainable hire options, we empower our patrons to embrace elegance while contributing to a greener, more beautiful world.

The Story Behind The Brand

Explore the story behind Brynels British Millinery, where Legacy, Love, and Luxury meet. Inspired by a mother’s vision to leave her daughter something meaningful, Brynels is more than a brand; it’s a journey of creativity, resilience, and purpose, shaped by defining moments that honour heritage while creating a timeless legacy.

Vivean was a guest at The Voice Newspaper’s 40th anniversary celebration, held at the Legacy Centre of Excellence in Birmingham, which featured a major book launch and gala event. Pictured alongside BBC news reporter Nicola Beckford, she described the occasion as “a resounding success celebrating the rich legacy and tapestry of Black history”, a theme she continues to champion through Learn with Lolonyo’s collection of positive, culturally inclusive resources.

The Innovate UK Women in Innovation Awards is the UK’s flagship initiative supporting female entrepreneurs, offering grants, mentoring, coaching, and business support to help women-led SMEs scale pioneering ideas across sectors such as technology, life sciences, and manufacturing. Vivean Pomell received a Women in Innovation Recognition Award for her innovative idea and patent concept under development at the time, acknowledging the originality, potential impact, and leadership demonstrated through her work.

Founded by Vivean Pomell, is an acclaimed British couture millinery brand known for its artistic, bespoke headpieces and distinctive craftsmanship. Vivean was commissioned by Jacob Kimmie of the Digbeth Custard Factory to design five couture pieces for London Fashion Week, where Brynelsshowcased the collection, including the standout Mardi Gras headpiece. The brand has also been featured in Ebony magazine and the national press, recognising its creative excellence and bold design aesthetic.

Brynels British Millinery’s striking couture headpieces were recently showcased in a professional photoshoot by Eclectic Connections, a respected fashion house known for championing both emerging and established creative talent. The collaboration captured the elegance, craftsmanship, and bold statement of Brynels’ bespoke designs in a contemporary fashion setting. Founder Vivean Pomell warmly welcomed the opportunity, delighted to see her creations styled and presented through a fresh, inspiring lens.

Brynels British Millinery was born from resilience and compassion. During pregnancy, founder Vivean Pomell developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, limiting the use of her hands. When her young daughter later experienced hair loss, Vivean began designing hats to restore confidence and dignity. What began at home became Brynels in 2007, a bespoke millinery brand. Her inspiring journey led to recognition as a runner-up at the Barclays Trading Places Awards, celebrated at the Gala Dinner in London.

At a beautiful family wedding in Greece, Vivean Pomell designed and handcrafted a bespoke headpiece to perfectly complement her dress for the special occasion. Thoughtfully created for the celebration, the piece reflected her signature elegance and attention to detail, ensuring every element of her look was harmoniously styled.

Pictured with family, Vivean embraced the day not only as a designer, but as a proud aunt celebrating a joyful and memorable moment together.

Brynels British Millinery gained valuable experience hosting a pop-up at John Lewis, Solihull, where customers were captivated by the brand’s eclectic range of handcrafted headpieces. Many commented on the exceptional attention to detail and the rich variety of embellishments that define Brynels’ distinctive style. The response was so positive that Vivean Pomell was referred to the store’s in-house buying team, opening conversations about potential retail opportunities and wider collaboration within the prestigious department store.

Vivean Pomell founder of Brynels British Millinery, was nominated for the prestigious MBCC Awards in the Entrepreneur of the Year category in 2023. The MBCC Awards (Multicultural Business and Community Champion) recognize unsung heroes in business and the community.

Entrepreneur and speaker Jo Cameron, known for appearing in series two of the BBC’s The Apprentice, has built a strong reputation championing women in business. Through initiatives such as the Achievers Academy for Women, she has supported aspiring female entrepreneurs across the UK. Her work continues to inspire a new generation of founders, highlighting the importance of visibility, mentorship, and inclusive opportunities for women building successful and sustainable enterprises.

Vivean Pomell was invited to attend the Women’s Who Annual Event in Sutton, held under the auspices of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. The gathering brought together an inspiring company of female leaders whose businesses demonstrated clear potential for growth and innovation. Vivean’s presence reflected recognition of her entrepreneurial journey and creative enterprise, while also providing an opportunity to connect with like-minded women shaping the future of business and leadership.

“Elegant Plan Proves a Big Winner” was the headline in the Birmingham Mail, celebrating another milestone in Vivean Pomell’s Brynels British Millinery journey. The feature recognised her growing reputation for beautifully crafted headpieces and her ability to turn creativity into enterprise. Along the way, Brynels has built meaningful partnerships, received multiple awards, and continued to evolve through Vivean’s distinctive designs, each piece reflecting the elegance, detail, and passion at the heart of the brand.

The Birmingham Mail once described Vivean Pomell simply as “a star.” In astronomy, stars are known for shining brightly and standing high above the ordinary. Vivean embodies that spirit in abundance. Through Brynels British Millinery, she continues to illuminate the world of design with creativity, elegance, and determination, crafting exquisite headpieces that turn heads while inspiring others to believe that passion, resilience, and artistry can truly shine.

Brynels founder Vivean Pomell gained recognition when Advantage West Midlands (AWM) highlighted her innovative work developing a pending patent using bio-medical textiles to create aesthetically pleasing solutions for women experiencing hair loss during medical treatment. Her vision was to design a new generation of wigs and headwear that combined comfort, dignity, and style. AWM, then the region’s development agency championing innovation and medical technologies, praised the concept as a powerful example of creativity meeting real social need.

Britain’s acclaimed, ‘The Voice’ Newspaper featured a striking editorial titled “The Rise of the House of Brynels,” charting Vivean Pomell’s determined journey to elevate her brand. The piece highlighted her creative drive and entrepreneurial ambition, while Vivean reflected on the influence of her mother, a skilled seamstress whose knowledge of design and stitching laid the early foundations for her craft. That legacy continues to shape Brynels’ elegance, detail, and distinctive style.

Our Awards & Achievements

Elegant Designs

A curated collection of hats that blend heritage with modern style.

5

Years

Rooted in British millinery tradition and timeless craftsmanship.

0

Number of Collaborations

That’s why we strive to offer a diverse range of products that cater to all styles.

A Hatmaker’s Heritage

Brynel Stone was more than a matriarch, she was a visionary. A mother of seven with an indomitable spirit, she balanced family life with an unshakable passion for design and craftsmanship. At a time when opportunity was scarce, Brynel forged her own path, opening a modest market stall where every handmade hat reflected perseverance, creativity, and pride.

Between forming patterns and stitching fabric, she taught her children the value of hard work, integrity, and imagination. For Brynel, the art of sewing was more than craft, it was legacy: a belief that dreams pursued with purpose can outlast generations.

Today, that legacy continues through her daughter, Vivean, who has transformed her mother’s vision into Brynels British Millinery, a Birmingham-based house of bespoke hat makers and heritage hats for women. Each design embodies precision, elegance, and the timeless artistry of British milliners, blending traditional techniques with modern sophistication.

At Brynels, every feather, ribbon, and curve tells a story of legacy, love, and luxury, a tribute to one woman’s dream, now shared with the world.

This is more than millinery.
This is Brynels, where heritage becomes art, and every bespoke hat is made to be remembered.