The Materialist : Gigi Burris

This week on The Materialist, I sit down with milliner and creative force Gigi Burris, founder of Gigi Burris Millinery and the nonprofit Closely Crafted, which champions artisanal production in the U.S.

We talk about how Gigi went from sewing hats as a Parsons student to dressing Rihanna and being a CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund finalist—while keeping her studio (and her soft-coated Wheaten Terrier shipping manager, Brooklyn Bow) right in the heart of Chinatown. She shares what it means to build a niche brand in an age of sameness, the surprisingly diverse world of hat-wearers, and why confidence is the accessory that really matters.

Highlights from our conversation:

* ✂️ The difference between a milliner and a millionaire (and why she hopes to be both one day)

* 👒 How Rihanna ended up in a senior thesis hat from Parsons

* 🧵 The Vogue Fashion Fund bootcamp that shaped her business

* 🇯🇵 Why Japanese department stores get everything first

* 🎯 Closely Crafted’s mission to revive U.S.-based artisan production

* 💡 “If you're going to be intentional about the way you dress, why would you not do so from head to toe?”

* 👛 Shout-outs to fellow makers: Eve Fehren, Lizzie Fortunato, Don’t Let Disco, and Underwater Weaving Studio.

Gigi Burris O’Hara at her studio and store in Chinatown, NYC

Marc Bridge wearing a Gigi Burris Hat Pin as a Lapel Pin, NYC