Profile: Amina Marie Millinery
So happy to be bringing to y’all this fabulous wife and mother of three who has “topped” off the fashion world here in KC. Amina Marie Hood is a Kansas City native who spent her twenties in the West Coast attending the Academy of Art in San Francisco, where she worked for luxury retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
Photo by Basilio Silva
About five years ago, Amina was approached by a friend to make her a hat for Burning Man. Since Amina had a background in textiles, it didn’t feel off base. To learn the technique, she searched the internet for how to make a hat. With that first creation she found a passion for millinery.
Photo by Meg Kumin
Amina started out by making hats for friends. In 2015, she entered the James Lock & Co annual millinery competition in London. She ended up being a finalist in the competition, the only finalist from the United States. This was the turning point and she then decided this was going to be her profession. She trained with world-renowned couture milliners. She’s had exhibitions from here in our very own KC to London, one of the top meccas in the world for hats.
Photo by Basilio Silva
She is currently working on a fusion-line for stores across the world. In the meantime, she has popped up in local high-end trunk shows like Lilly Pulitzer, Lady Bye, VanBrock and FLOC5 & Co. where you can shop her commercial line.
Photo by Paul Versluis / Art Direction by Amy Appleton Dreyer
During racing season, you can find Amina’s wearable art pieces being worn at The Kentucky Derby, Royal Ascot and The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Amina’s creations have even garnered the attention of celebrities and even has a hat on exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Photo by Paul Versluis / Art Direction by Amy Appleton Dreyer
“Wearing a hat should complete not compete an outfit,” Amina said. This talented local boss lady definitely wears multiple “hats,” but still has the time to bring joy to people through her art.
