About Maaneh Millinery
Maaneh Millinery is a contemporary luxury millinery house founded by designer Nirali Shah. We create handcrafted hats, fascinators and headpieces designed to bring individuality, craftsmanship and modern elegance to the way we dress.
From statement race-day hats and wedding headpieces to refined travel and everyday styles, every Maaneh piece is designed with the belief that headwear can be both expressive and effortlessly wearable.
Our collections are handcrafted in India, drawing on traditional Indian craftsmanship and materials while embracing the proportions, techniques and sensibility of contemporary international millinery.
Maaneh, derived from Sanskrit, refers to a precious adornment, something that enhances one’s poise and presence. This idea sits at the heart of everything I create. Each piece is meticulously handcrafted, blending unconventional materials with refined techniques to create designs that feel distinctive yet effortless.
From Engineer to Milliner
I founded Maaneh Millinery in 2018, following an unexpected journey from engineering to the world of millinery.
With a background in Systems and Aerospace Engineering from Cornell University, my early career was rooted in precision, problem-solving and design. It was during my time in Louisville, Kentucky, home to the Kentucky Derby, that I discovered the extraordinary world of millinery.
What began as curiosity soon became a deep fascination with the craft of creating headwear, eventually leading me to build Maaneh.
That engineering background continues to influence the way I design with an appreciation for proportion, structure, balance and precision, while allowing the creative process to remain intuitive and expressive.
INDIA × MILLINERY
At Maaneh, we believe a hat should feel like an extension of the person wearing it, not simply an accessory added at the end of an outfit.
India is at the heart of Maaneh. We explore India's rich textile and craft traditions through a contemporary millinery lens, bringing techniques, textures and artisanal details into modern headwear.
Each piece is carefully constructed by hand, combining traditional millinery techniques with unexpected materials, artisanal details and contemporary design.
The result is headwear that feels rooted in place, yet designed to travel across cultures, occasions and wardrobes.
Headwear for Every Occasion
From the world's great race days to weddings, travels and everyday life, Maaneh creates headwear for moments both significant and spontaneous.
RACE DAY
Statement hats & fascinators for Kentucky Derby, Oaks Day, Melbourne Cup & Royal Ascot
WEDDINGS
Bridal headpieces, wedding guest hats & mother-of-the-bride millinery
TRAVEL
Sun hats designed for resorts, urban escapes & life on the move
EVERYDAY
Refined headwear for women, men & children
Bespoke Millinery
For those looking for something truly personal, Maaneh offers bespoke millinery designed around the wearer, occasion and outfit.
From the initial consultation and design concept through material selection, construction and finishing, each piece is developed individually.
Design mock-ups allow the direction of the piece to be explored before it is handcrafted, creating a collaborative process from concept to completion.
The Maaneh Journey
Since launching in 2018, Maaneh has grown from a personal exploration of millinery into an international headwear brand, with more than 1,000 unique pieces created for women across the world.
Our work has been featured in publications including Harper's Bazaar, ELLE, Femina and Brides Today, and our pieces have been associated at prestigious places like the Kentucky Derby Museum and the Brown hotel Louisville KY, worn for weddings, celebrations, race days and special occasions internationally.
Beyond the Hat
As a working mother to two daughters, building Maaneh has been one of the most personal journeys of my life.
Balancing motherhood with building a creative business has shaped the way I work and design; with intention, resilience and heart. My daughters have grown alongside Maaneh, making the brand as much a part of our family story as it is my creative one.
Maaneh Millinery is, for me, more than headwear. It is a way of expressing identity, femininity, and timeless style.
From Our Studio
Maaneh pieces are developed and handcrafted through our studio practice in Ahmedabad, India, with an international perspective shaped by Nirali's connection to Louisville, Kentucky.
More Than a Hat
Indian craftsmanship. Contemporary millinery. Individual expression.
Maaneh creates headwear for those who see fashion as an opportunity to express who they are from the world's great race days to weddings, travels and everyday life and beyond.