My name is Amy S. Pate, and my last name, ironically, means “head, or top of the head”

Does hat making run in my family? I don’t know for sure, but in ancient times surnames often related to, or were given, based on one’s trade or occupation.

I’ve always loved hats, fashion, eyewear, accessories, design and art. I’ve been an artist and designer ever since I can remember. There’s not been a day in my life I wasn’t either creating something or thinking about what I am going to create next. Hats are my passion. My hat and headwear designs are a reflection of all my experiences, travels and adventures. I’ve collected and continue to curate various materials, bric-a-brac and experiences that all eventually find their way into my hat or art designs. I often hand make the trimmings for my designs. Whether it’s metal smithing set stones, hand tooled leather, hand making wire, cutting leather bands, painting, carving, sculpting, etching metal or making custom liners, I make almost every part of my designs - including the blocked hat!

My formal education is in Interior Design, Graphic Design and Fashion Design at the Art Institutes. A licensed contractor in Florida for many years, I owned a design and construction company in Southwest Florida from the early 90’s through the early 2000’s. This tenure of my career path led me to meet a client that became a business partner in an import furniture and design business that afforded me many opportunities to travel overseas, designing and procuring goods, furniture, clothing and accessories of all kinds. My travels around the world have enabled me to take classes and learn from many professional educators of millinery, hat making and art.

Making hats, fashion accessories and art are my passion, my life and my honor. I feel blessed and grateful to be able to make beautiful pieces that reflect a part of me and my life. I am even more honored when I can make a custom piece for a client that expresses a part of who they are and what they want to say to the world.