Kathy Jeanne is a family-owned business based in Fairfield, New Jersey, specializing in handcrafted headwear since 1985. Led by head designer Jeanne Marie Gerish, the brand is known for combining modern style with traditional millinery techniques. Each hat is made with attention to detail and a deep respect for the history of hat-making, reflecting the company’s long-standing commitment to quality and craftsmanship.
What sets Kathy Jeanne Millinery apart isn’t just the beauty of the hats, but the process behind them. Each piece is hand-blocked and sewn using traditional methods, including antique presses and hand-carved wood blocks, some of which date back to the late 1800s. “We first take the raw material, whether it be straw, woolfelt, or furfelt, and use industrial steamers to make it more malleable,” Gerish explains. “Then the raw material is formed over antique wood and aluminum presses and roped where we want the material creased.” The molded material is baked in a kiln for wood forms or over an open flame for aluminum dyes to hold its shape. Once cooled, excess material is trimmed and finished with wires, grosgrain sweatbands, and bindings using cast iron sewing machines that are also antique pieces of history. “The history of our tools and machinery is just as interesting and artful as the hats themselves,” she adds. Final touches, like signature ornamentation, are sewn on by hand, completing the transformation from raw material to wearable art.
Keeping the business close to its roots, Jeanne Marie’s daughter, Madison Gerish, has also become an integral part of the studio. Madison assists with day-to-day operations, models the completed hats, and helps carry on the family tradition with her own creative flair. She is hands-on in nearly every part of the process and deeply invested in maintaining the brand’s commitment to craftsmanship while also pushing it forward. “We plan to continue making hats using traditional techniques and keeping our family legacy going,” she notes, “but there is definitely more of a future emphasis on using sustainable practices.” The company has also embraced more sustainable practices, creating small-batch fashion, using vintage materials, and finding ways to repurpose excess fabric for trimmings and ornamentation.
Outside the studio, Madison is a musician and plays in a folk rock band called The Adventures of Matte Black, where she writes and performs original music. The same creativity and dedication she brings to millinery can be felt in her music, a reflection of her artistic spirit and strong sense of storytelling. Her dual passions for design and sound bring a fresh, modern energy to the brand that honors its roots while embracing the rhythm of what’s next.
Among their most beloved styles are the Cloche Hats - a shape with French origins in the early 20th century that has found a new audience with today’s youth. “It’s wonderful to see younger generations continue to find appreciation for these styles of the past,” Madison says.
And while their hats are a testament to heritage and craftsmanship, the people behind them are equally dynamic. When she’s not designing, Jeanne Gerish can often be found at her family’s farm and animal sanctuary, Born to Run Farm, a 130-acre property in Glen Gardner, NJ that hosts weddings and special events. It’s another space where creativity, community, and care come together - the same values that echo the spirit of Kathy Jeanne Millinery.
Kathy Jeanne Millinery isn’t just about hats - it’s about family, legacy, and craftsmanship. From the Fairfield studio, the business remains deeply committed to its community, its customers, and the artistry of handmade fashion. We live in a time where authenticity matters more than ever, and Kathy Jeanne Millinery is a shining example of what it means to create with a purpose. Whether you’re a fashion enthusiast, a lover of handmade goods, or simply someone who values the stories behind the products you wear, Kathy Jeanne’s hats offer you handcrafted style and history, proudly made in New Jersey. Starting June 6, Kathy Jeanne Millinery will be featured in The Nook at Just Jersey!
