Encyclopedia Of Detroit

Mertize was born April 9, 1922 in Mound Bayou, MS and at a young age migrated to Detroit, MI.  Mertis Mae, as she was known then, attended Northern High School, where an instructor took a special interest in her creative talents.  Mertis was encouraged to pursue her career with millinery instruction at La Chic Millinery.  It was here that Mertis Mae, the little country girl, was transformed into the budding millinery designer, Mertize.

Mertize opened her first establishment, Mertize Custom Millinery, in 1951 in an upstairs flat on Ferry and Brush.  She started her business with scraps of fabric given to her by a dressmaker and the desire to create.  Mertize’s popularity grew as she sold her wares throughout the U.S. and was quite popular with the “church hat ladies.”  Mertize was also known for her fabulous shows that happened in places like the El Cano, The Flame and the Three Sixes.

Mertize’s trademark was her unique one of a kind millinery designs and her workmanship.  Mertize’s customers never had to worry about “seeing their hat” on anyone else.  Mertize specialized in remaking old hats.  All of her hats had names such as the “Chef’s Hat,” “The Rag Hat” and the “Suitcase Hat.”

Mertize continued designing until October of 2006, when at the age of 84 she became ill and was no longer able to work.  In 2007 Mertize Millinery made hats for the Plowshares production of “Crowns” and the Detroit Opera House production of “Margaret Garner.”

In addition to creating millinery fashions, Mertize taught her skill to others. She was very free-hearted with passing her skills on to others and always encouraged her students to pursue their dreams.  Mertize also believed in giving back to the community; she gave free and reduced hat classes at Mother Waddles’ Perpetual Mission, worked with Tried Stone Baptist Church during the 1967 riots and sponsored fundraisers for the Detroit Meals on Wheels.