Starting 2017 the Right Way with New Hat Styles!

Voodoo Hatter has never had trouble delivering an edge to the top hat world and this time around they have really pulled all stops.
These new Voodoo hats bring this style to life in reimagined ways to accessorize the way you ride, rock, and rebel!

Ashbury hats reinvents past styles with a fresh batch of neutral colors and fierce eye candy as well as adding new unique and standout looks!

American Outback Hats showing consistent strength in creating the perfect hats for durability, comfort, and the free spirited style of any adventurer!

Double G takes a step back from the sleek, refined cowboy look to deliver some new textures and a new style to keep you looking sharp and feeling good!

Keep your eye out for more new designs and styles, we have some very exciting hats in the works!

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Runway-ready collection of hats inspired by the retro underground fashion of ‘The City’ “Ashbury Hats”

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Drake Bell in a Navy Summit

Whether attending a formal event or exploring the streets of a new city, Ashbury has the personality and confidence to show the world there is no such thing as overdressed!
With popular style like the Summit and Soho, Ashbury offers not only the look and feel of the retro San Francisco underground but a new take on functionality with crushable, durable leather to make it easy to take these stylish hats on the go and to insure a hat that outlasts seasonal fashion trends and keeps you in style for years to come!

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Jamie Foxx in a Saddle Summit

Ashbury Hats’ retro designs aren’t merely imitation of the classic underground city style but an inspired collection of hats reminding us that foggy days and a runway aren’t that different with a re-imagination of seasonal colors matched with handmade, easily stored materials.

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Cerina Vincent in a Chocolate Soho

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Josh Kelly in a Chocolate Soho

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You carry your style with you when you travel. Whether a long excursion, or just a trip around the corner, a packable hat that keeps its looks is the piece you need. And that’s exactly what you’ll find in the Soho. This lightweight and durable hat is tough and cool and makes you the hit of the hiking trail or music festival. Heck, why not the music festival at the end of the hiking trail? Available in a variety of colors to match any mood or wardrobe. Grab the Soho today, and hit the road, Jack! (5 colors available)

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The Summit offers a variety of colors in this brand-specific combination of felt and leather to ensure an easy choice for every season and the handmade comfort expected from American Hat Makers. Because we know style is all about how the hat makes you feel the Summit‘s wide brim keeps you in the shade for your mid day city strolls without impairing vision when it hits the late night out on the town making this hat ideal for anyone trying to stand out in all the best ways! (5 colors available)

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Do you believe in MAGIC? American Hat Makers does!

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Do you believe in MAGIC?

I’m not referring to the David Copperfield kind (although this kind does appear in Las Vegas!)

Nor I am I referring to the pulling a rabbit out of a hat kind (although this kind does involve hats!)

No, I am referring to the amazing, one-of-a-kind fashion tradeshow that takes place in Las Vegas twice a year. With over 60,000 (yes, that is correct: sixty THOUSAND) industry insiders in attendance, MAGIC is the marketplace for all things fashion forward.

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If this is the place to be then you know American Hat Makers is there! We are proud to be a part of this huge marketplace for the past several years. It’s one of our favorite places to be! (Well, they all are, but don’t let the secret out!)

MAGIC is truly like nothing else and American Hat Makers is thrilled to be exhibiting in “The Collective” marketplace again this year.

What is “The Collective” you ask? well, according to MAGIConline:

THE COLLECTIVE is the culture of men’s fashion. This platform showcases everything from classic collections to lifestyle-driven and licensed apparel for men and young men. By uniting this community under one roof next to PROJECT, THE COLLECTIVE gives buyers unparalleled access to the rapidly growing men’s and young men’s market.

Come by THE COLLECTIVE and find us:   August 15-17, booth #30038.

This year we will be proudly showcasing both our new hats and our perennial bestsellers as well as celebrating our new Outdoor and Heritage catalogs!

 

If you’re in Vegas August 15- 17 we’d love to see you – or you can follow the magic on our Facebook page or  Instagram or Twitter!

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Written by Jessica Johnson exclusively for American Hat Makers

Take Care of Your Hat: American Hat Makers Shares Hat Care Tips

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A great hat may speak for itself ~ but it still needs you to take care of it!

Finding the perfect hat can feel a little like that birthday when you get exactly what you wished for ~ you want to dance about and show it off to everyone!

And right you should, go ahead and show it off! Sport that hat, tip it to strangers, wear it with pride! Your American Hat Makers hat will bring you years and years of joy and happiness – not to mention protection from the sun, rain and wind – especially if you take good care of it.

Here are a few videos to help you do just that – our team has compiled a series of videos to help you clean, pack, shape and even add a chin strap to your  hat.

How to Clean a Suede & Finished Leather Hat:

Here Kameron shares how to do general cleaning of suede and finished leather hats as well as how to get rid of unwanted scuffs and scratches. He also demonstrates the gentle touch required when cleaning our airbrushed and laser etched hats.

How to Pack A Hat:

Watch Kameron demonstrate our hat packing tips! Learn about the hat saving taco move.

 

How to Maintain Your Hat’s Shape:

Learn our best tips for helping your hat maintain its ideal shape.

How to Shape a Hat:

American Hat Makers founder Gary Watrous demonstrates the best way to shape your leather hats using a simple coffee can. He also shows his favorite techniques for utilizing our wire shaping systems.

 

Here is another exclusive video of  American Hat Makers founder, Gary Watrous showing you how to attach a chin strap to your mesh hat using a pencil!

How to Add a Chinstrap to a Hat:

Not one to be left out, we have Gary’s son, Garth, demonstrating how just how indestructible our hats really are! You have to see this to believe it!

Our Hats Are Crushable:

 

If you have any questions please call us – we love to help!

1-800-NICE-HAT

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Written by Jessica Johnson exclusively for American Hat Makers.

Meet Our Newest Jewel: Ruby Roxanne Designs

When Hannah Watrous, Director of Global Marketing and resident fashionista at American Hat Makers, wanted to bring some extra high-fashion glamour and pizzazz to the company she reached out to local designer Ruby Roxanne Agresta.

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Hannah Watrous and Ruby Roxanne at WESA in Denver

Known for her much adored leather statement cuffs – seen on the wrists of rock stars, celebrities, runway models and that stylish woman you see around town – Agresta’s company, Ruby Roxanne Designs, exhibits a strong appreciation for well-crafted, carefully designed, high-quality leather accessories and Hannah Watrous knew she wanted to meet Ruby.

Initially attracted to Ruby’s keen marketing and branding, Hannah recalls,  “I wanted to meet with her and ask what she was doing to reach the celebrities because I thought she was doing a remarkable job.”

 

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Some of the many celebrities who rock RRD!

Luckily,  Hannah Watrous is both patient and persistent, because it took over two years for the two world-traveling, successful working moms to be able to connect face to face. Ruby remembers Hannah extending an invitation for her to come to the Hat Hangar.

“Hannah said, ‘Why don’t you come to my little store, we just opened it.’ When I got here and looked around my jaw dropped and Hannah said, “Well, the store is little!” said Ruby, laughing.

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American Hat Makers’ not so small home.

While Ruby was impressed with the quality of the hats and the size of the business it still took a bit of persuading to get her into the hat business.

“We worked together and got some hats on some celebrities,” recalls Ruby, “but when they asked me to design a collection I said no way. I love a challenge, but I didn’t want to let them down.” 

But then Ruby began to think about all the work she does with teens through her work as a mentor with local organizations FashionART and Pivot: The Art of Fashion and she realized, “I gotta practice what I preach!”

Even though she admits she was “a little scared” she designed her first two hats under the Ashbury hat line – the Maddy and the Bella – which made their debut in Denver at the Western and English Sales Association Market.

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Hannah rockin’ the Maddy by Ruby Roxanne Designs

Hannah Watrous couldn’t be happier with Ruby’s designs. “Ruby adds an element of flirty fashion to our leather hats that we haven’t had up to now. If you want to feel luxurious and fabulous and stand out in the crowd then you want to have one of the hats from Ruby’s collection!”

Ruby brings bling, high-fashion, and meticulous attention to detail to her collection and this innate sensibility meshes perfectly with American Hat Makers’ commitment to unique, artisan, best-in-class hats.

Ruby is thrilled to be a part of the American Hat Makers family. “[American Hat Makers] are so amazing to work with,” she says. “They love my work and I love their work and it has just been a blessing!”

According to Hannah, the feeling is mutual. “Ruby is like a sister from another mother.  I absolutely adore her. She has the most giving and generous heart, she’s easy to get along with – we laugh often – and working with her has been a perfect fit for our company.”

Welcome to the American Hat Makers family Ruby Roxanne Designs!

 

 

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Happy Birthday to Gary Watrous! 

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The American Hat Makers family came together last week to celebrate the 66th birthday of founder and president Gary Watrous.

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It’s easy to celebrate a man like Gary – he’s far from a stereotypical “boss.” Not only is he profoundly passionate about leatherwork and hat making, he is equally enamored with the team of people working with him at the Watsonville warehouse and boutique.

Gary’s heart of gold is the stuff of legend at American Hat Makers, and each and every employee knows they can come to him if they need anything and he will do all he can to help.

To Gary, the team he works with is like family. In fact, many of the folks working at American Hat Makers are family. Gary’s wife, Merry Lee contributes to design and creative development; son, Garth, is second in command; and his daughter-in-law, Hannah, is the Director of Global Marketing and Branding.

“Family has always been the most important part of life to me,” Gary said. “There is a satisfaction in sharing the creative process and continuing the dream with those you love.”

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Daughter-in-law Hannah serves the birthday cake.

Speaking of those he loves, Gary’s constant companions, Ruby and Pearl, come with him to work everyday. They are an important part of the team and if you come to the shop you may well be greeted by them. If he could, he would likely bring his gorgeous horse, Tucker, to work too!

 

Ruby & Pearl American Hat Makers Daogs with hats

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Gary is undoubtedly the golden heart of American Hat Makers – and he is the first to say his family and team are the soul.

Please join us all as we wish Gary a very Happy Birthday!

 

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American Hat Makers in the Community: Aptos High School Hall of Fame

American Hat Makers welcomes the opportunity to support the local community and was pleased to donate hats for the 2016 Aptos High School Athletic Hall of Fame silent auction on Saturday, April 30 at the Seascape Golf Club.

Inductees included big wave surfer Tyler Fox, extreme skier Cody Townsend, track athlete Stephanie LeFever and many other Mariner standouts.

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Members of the Aptos High School Hall of Fame committee said they were honored to have American Hat Makers’ contributions from the Sol Air, Ashbury and American Outback lines. “The hats are gorgeous and they really raise the bar on our silent auction. We are grateful for American Hat Makers’ support of our Hall of Fame.”

American Hat Makers congratulates the Aptos High School Hall of Fame Class of 2016! 

Bright Splashes of Color – Hannah’s Hats and Heels

In case you missed meeting me at American Hat Makers’ Hat Day in the Sun in Capitola on June 19th, here’s my outfit and stunning hat for this week’s Hannah’s Hats & Heels.

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To complement my handmade Black and Lavender Derby Dallas Hat and sassy bow (Double G Hats), I chose a bold camisole from CAbi – purple, pink, yellow and green – so I could keep cool while I was busy passing out hats.

To protect my shoulders from the sun (the whole point of National Hat Day in the Sun), I chose a mint cardigan with flowing lines that dresses up my outfit without making me uncomfortable in the heat. I added black stylish fitted shorts – casual and professional at the same time – and chunky beige wedges – to lengthen my silhouette.

These are all basic pieces in my wardrobe that turn into a fancy outfit when I top it with my Derby Dallas Hat. The bow really makes a statement – I received so many compliments that I’m suggesting we add this to our line in the upcoming seasons.

Usually lavender might seem a bit light and can fade into the background – not here! With my bold cami and pretty cardi, I was anything but invisible.

Send me your favorite black and bold ensemble. I’ll help you match a hat — so you can protect your gorgeous head and face and look amazing!

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Black & White is Summer Chic – Hannah’s Hats & Heels 

Summer’s here and the most important must-wear accessory is a hat, of course. So many people buy hats and only wear them for special occasions. Not me!
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Hats used to be worn every day for every reason – it’s my goal to make every day hat day. I’m going to show you how effortless it is to match a hat to your outfit.
For a stylish twist to Summer, here’s casual chic that will keep you cool while you look hot!
A cute black fitted short-sleeved jacket over white wide-leg trousers and black flats is the perfect match for this black Derby Dallas from Double G Hats.
I added a fabulous black bow to give it a unique twist. I can go from work to dinner and not miss a beat.
These are basic pieces you probably already have in your closet. Don’t be shy to wear black in the summer – brighten it up and add your own style stamp.
Send me your favorite Summer black & white ensemble. I’ll help you match a hat — so you can protect your gorgeous head and face and look amazing!