Meet Maria the New Orleans based millinery:

For nearly 12 years I worked as a graphic designer and ran my own design studio. I changed my career five years ago and became a milliner (hat maker), but once a designer always a designer. I was born in Panama and moved to the US when I was a young girl. I am now a mom and I love fashion. I was introduced to millinery while living in The Netherlands in 2014. I create custom hats by using old world millinery techniques, vintage/new materials, and wooden hat block forms. My custom hats, fascinators and headpieces are handcrafted in my New Orleans home studio.

When I make a custom hat, fascinator, or a headpiece, it’s important that your personality and style are taken into consideration, as well as my modern and colorful design aesthetic. My work is meticulously handcrafted with a great deal of attention to the elements and principles of design like balance, proportion, movement, color, contrast, and so on. These aren’t your grandmother’s hats.

I really enjoy working with mothers and daughters that have never experienced working with a milliner. During our first consultation; we will discuss materials, colorways, and hat shapes. Developing trust and communication is very important while we work to create a made to order hat. I am most proud of creating hats for the Mardi Gras Court 2024 in New Orleans. I also make custom hats for Mobile Alabama and Lafayette, Louisiana carnivals.

I find inspiration by studying fashion shows, new and old, via the Vogue Runway app, reading about current fashion design trends and fashion history. I believe fashion is an exciting way to express your individuality. Don’t you just love Rahul Mishra and Maison Margiela! Hats don’t only complete your look, they elevate it. No one is looking at your outfit darling, they are looking at your couture hat!

I would love to be your milliner (hat maker) and create beautiful works of art from felt or straw for you next special event. Hats are like shoes, you can’t just have one pair.

Let’s get started!

You can purchase ready-to-wear hat collection on my web shop or exclusively at Century Girl Vintage. 

Maria is a member of Milliners Guild. She volunteers her time by helping the Guild with their web and graphic design needs. She served on the board from 2020-21. The Milliners Guild is an organization of small business hat owners, milliners, & millinery students who specialize in the design, production, and promotion of handmade headwear.

She is also a member of the Dutch Hat Association. Were she served as an editor and graphic designer for their publication Hatlines from 2015-2017.