Business

Black Business Spotlight: Angie’s Hats

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER — In the heart of Saint Paul’s art district sits a distinctive shop where milliner Angie Hall Sandifer makes hats.

Published

6 years ago

March 13, 2019

Oakland Post

By Chris Juhn

In the heart of Saint Paul’s art district sits a distinctive shop where milliner Angie Hall Sandifer makes hats. Founded in 2006, her namesake brand Angie’s Hats has grown from a class project after getting laid off to an international business, supplying custom-fitted creations to hat lovers all over the world.

Her hats are flashy, extravagant, and one-of-a-kind. They speak to the rich traditions of Black women and their coveted church hats as well as women all over the world clamoring for crowning looks at the Kentucky Derby.

We caught up with Sandifer in her sixth-floor Lowertown studio filled with hats and millinery equipment to talk inspiration, the creation process, and her vision for the future.

MSR: How did you learn how to make hats?

Angie Hall Sandifer: There was nobody [locally] to teach me, so someone recommended that I work at the Guthrie in the costume department. [Then] I ended up finding a master milliner in North Carolina. I had private lessons with her, [but] when I came back, I was [still] clueless. I kept practicing and one day some real hats started showing up!

MSR: How did a class project inspire your business?

AHS: I grew up in the South and I was a Baptist. My mother wore hats, my grandmother wore hats, my father wore caps. He liked seeing us in hats, so that whole church hat thing was an inspiration for me. I love hats, I never thought I would be making them, but it worked out and I found my passion.

MSR: What kind of hats do you make?

AHS: I started out with just basic hats — mostly church hat styles. But, as the years went by, I’ve gotten a little bit more creative. Now I do Kentucky Derby hats, as well.

MSR: The Kentucky Derby is in May. How long does it take to make a hat?

AHS: Probably a week, at most.

MSR: That’s pretty intense. What’s the process like?

AHS: There are different ways to make hats. Sometimes I use fabric, sometimes it’s straw, etc… I make them the old-fashioned way — wood blocks, steam, wire, those sorts of things. A lot of people think that you just buy a mold and add things, but that’s not how I do it.

Angie’s Hats celebrate Black style history (Submitted photo)

You come in for a fitting [and] you find different embellishments, such as ribbon or feathers, and I make the hat. Then you come in for a second fitting to find out if I need to make any adjustments. It’s custom-made to fit your head.

MSR: Do you make men’s hats?

AHS: I make fedora-style hats.

MSR: Where do you draw your inspiration?

AHS: Old movies. I just love that era when people got dressed up. They were elegant, they were classy, so that’s kind of my inspiration.

MSR: What’s your vision for Angie’s Hats?

AHS: I want to do more shows. I want to get more involved in conferences that come to the Twin Cities and become a vendor. My goal is to have [my hats] in boutiques and not sell them online.

MSR: Why not online?

AHS: A lot of times we find hats online that are pretty and we order them. [We get them and] they don’t look good on us or they don’t fit [well] because a lot of people don’t know what their head size is. So they send them back. I don’t want to get into shipping orders. I just want to make hats and sell them locally or in boutiques across the country.

MSR: Who is your clientele?

AHS: I sell church hats to a lot of women going to weddings in Europe because hats are customary there. But my busy season is the Kentucky Derby.

MSR: How do you interact with the art community around you in Lowertown and the Twin Cities?

AHS: I’ve been a part of the art crawl, and I usually open my studio for it. People are a little bit surprised to see hats, and people are really receptive.

MSR: What has been the most rewarding part of owning your business?

AHS: I used to work with kids through Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and I always used to tell the kids, “The only career advice you need is to find your passion and follow it.” But I never thought I’d find my passion — and I did.

Angie’s Hats is located at 308 Prince Street, Studio 610 in St. Paul. The shop is open by appointment only. For more info, call 651-208-4442 or visit angieshats.com.

This article originally appeared in the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

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Black History

Henry Blair, the Second African American to Obtain a Patent

Being a successful farmer required consistent production. Blair figured out a way to increase his harvest. He did this with two inventions. His first invention was a corn planter. The planter had the same structure as a wheelbarrow, with a box to hold the seed and rakes dragging behind to cover them. This machine allowed farmers to plant their crops more economically.

Published

1 hour ago

May 19, 2025

Oakland Post

A sketch of one of Henry Blair’s inventions, the seed planter. Image courtesy United States Patent and Trademark Office.

By Tamara Shiloh

The debate over whether enslaved African Americans could receive U.S. Government-issued patents was still unfolding when the second African American to hold a patent, Henry Blair, received his first patent in 1834.

The first African American to receive a patent was Thomas Jennings in 1821 for his discovery of a process called dry scouring, also known as dry cleaning.

Blair was born in Glen Ross, Maryland, in 1807. He was an African American farmer who received two patents. Each patent was designed to help increase agricultural productivity.

There is very little information about his life prior to the inventions. It is known that he was a farmer who invented machines to help with planting and harvesting crops. There is no written evidence that he was a slave.

However, it is apparent that he was a businessman.

Blair could not write. As a result of his illiteracy, he signed the patent with an “X”. He received his first patent for the corn planter on Oct. 14, 1834.

Two years later, taking advantage of the boost in the cotton industry, he received his second patent. This time for a cotton planter. This machine worked by splitting the ground with two shovel-like blades that were pulled along by a horse. A wheel-driven cylinder behind the blades placed seeds into the freshly plowed ground. Not only was this another economical and efficient machine. It also helped with controlling weeds and put the seeds in the ground quickly Henry Blair received his second patent on Aug. 31, 1836

During this time, the United States government passed a law that allowed patents to be granted to both free and enslaved men. However, in 1857, this law was contested by a slaveowner. He argued that slaveowners had a right to claim credit for a slave’s inventions. His argument was that since an owner’s slaves were his property, anything that a slave owned was the property of the owner also.

In 1858 the law changed, and patents were no longer given to slaves. However, the law changed again in 1871 after the Civil War. The patent law was revised to permit all American men, regardless of race, the right to patent their inventions.

Blair died in 1860.

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Bo Tefu

Gov. Newsom Highlights Record-Breaking Tourism Revenue, Warns of Economic Threats from Federal Policies

“California dominates as a premier destination for travelers throughout the nation and around the globe,” said Newsom. “With diverse landscapes, top-rate attractions, and welcoming communities, California welcomes millions of visitors every year. We also recognize that our state’s progress is threatened by the economic impacts of this federal administration, and are committed to working to protect jobs and ensure all Californians benefit from a thriving tourism industry.”

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2 hours ago

May 19, 2025

Oakland Post

iStock.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom, along with the nonprofit organization Visit California, announced that tourism spending in California reached a record $157.3 billion in 2024, reinforcing the state’s status as the top travel destination in the United States.

The Governor made the announcement May 5, referencing Visit California’s 2024 Economic Impact Report, which highlights a 3% increase in tourism revenue over the previous year.

According to the report, California’s tourism sector supported 1.2 million jobs, generated $12.6 billion in state and local tax revenues, and created 24,000 new jobs in 2024.

Despite the gains in tourism revenue, Visit California’s revised 2025 forecast points to a 1% decline in total visitation and a 9.2% decrease in international travel. The downturn is attributed to federal economic policy and what officials are calling an impending “Trump Slump,” caused by waning global interest in traveling to the United States.

To offset projected losses, the Governor is encouraging Californians to continue traveling within the state and has launched a new campaign aimed at Canadian travelers.

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Activism

California Observes Third Annual Black Health Advocacy Week

On May 4, 2023, the California Assembly unanimously passed ACR 53, enacting BHEAW every first week of May. “The life expectancy at birth for Black Californians is 76.2 years of age, which is five years shorter than the state average and the lowest life expectancy of all racial and ethnic groups in California,” said Weber in a statement.

Published

3 hours ago

May 19, 2025

Oakland Post

Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson. File photo.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

California’s third annual Black Health Equity Advocacy Week (BHEAW), observed from May 5-9, reaffirmed the commitment of the state and advocates to address systemic health disparities affecting Black communities.

Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-San Diego), who is a medical doctor and chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), authored the resolution that created BHEAW — the first statewide initiative of its kind focused on advancing Black health equity.

On May 4, 2023, the California Assembly unanimously passed ACR 53, enacting BHEAW every first week of May.

“The life expectancy at birth for Black Californians is 76.2 years of age, which is five years shorter than the state average and the lowest life expectancy of all racial and ethnic groups in California,” said Weber in a statement.

“This disparity is a stark reminder of the systemic and institutional factors that contribute to health inequities in communities of color,” she added.

The California Black Health Network (CBHN) led this year’s events, combining advocacy, training, and public engagement to amplify the urgency of closing health gaps for Black Californians.

The theme of this year’s observance was “We’ve Got the Power.”

“CBHN is calling on our community to step up, speak out, and get involved. Increasing the participation of Black Californians in policymaking — across the health industry and public sector — is one of the most powerful ways we can drive change and save lives,” reads a message from the organization promoting this year’s BHEAW.

“Policy change is within your power and this week we’re in Sacramento with our Health Equity Advocacy Training (HEAT) Program Cohort 3 to uplift issues impacting our community and advocate to help shape the policies and programs that will improve the health of current and future generations of Black Californians,” the message continued.

Focused on public awareness and information, this year’s BHEAW included a social media campaign, a rally and training program with vital information on medical conditions that have a disproportionate impact on Black Californians, including maternal mortality, mental health, diabetes, cancer and more.

For more information on the resolution or to join the movement, visit CBHN’s official site, www.cablackhealthnetwork.org.