Hat Day in the Sun 2017!

June 1, 2017American Hat Makers Leave a comment

Watsonville, California based American Hat Makers is hosting the tenth annual Hat Day in the Sun. Hat Day in the Sun is a skin cancer educational event and hat give-away. Last year American Hat Makers gave away nearly 500 of their wide-brimmed, sun protection hats.
Held on Thursday, June 22, 2017, the event will begin at 1:00 and goes until all the hats are given away!

Hat Day in the Sun is an annual national public awareness campaign dedicated to educating adults and children about how the right head wear can protect against skin cancer, sun damage, and premature aging. To celebrate this event, American Hat Makers will be giving away FREE wide-brimmed sun-protection hats.

One of American Hat Makers’ core values is giving back to the community, and this is one of the most meaningful methods of doing just that. We are dedicated to heightening the awareness of skin cancer and the benefits of wearing a hat in the prevention of sun damage. Our lightweight and durable SolAir hats boast a 50+ UPF rating and are made of nylon mesh with a polyester liner. Come check out this event and walk away with an awesome hat that’ll keep you cool and safe!

Voodoo Hatter!

November 24, 2016American Hat Makers Leave a comment

Voodoo Hatter goes to lengths unseen to deliver the ultimate in handmade leather top hats. 19th Century style infused with fierce sensibility and a touch of dark energy make our Voodoo Top Hats essential to your subversive lifestyle.

The Caliber in red, black, cigar, and rattlesnake.

From hard-kicking rocker to brazen biker or neo-noir grifter, you will make a definitive statement wherever you go. We designed these bad asses to be the kinds of hats you can become known for wearing. Formed out of black or brown full-grain smooth leather, our toppers are built to last. The new additions feature remarkable airbrushed, laser engraved designs and eye catching rattlesnake skin overlay.

The Skull N Roses (design by Adam Rose)

Adam Rose of Fallen Owl Tattoo is an amazing tattoo artist who sends us his designs to be used in the production of our hats!

The Silver Skull (design by Adam Rose)

These styles utilize state-of-the-art laser engraving and airbrushing techniques to perfectly recreate Adam’s absolutely stunning works of art.

The Cocktailer (design by Adam Rose)

Shipwrecked (design by Adam Rose)

Balance (design by Adam Rose)

Voodoo Hatter lives for biker rallies! Whether it’s the Lone Star rally in Galveston, Texas or the world famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally we love absolutely tearing it up with our fans and having a great time.This year’s rallies were especially great. As we attend more and more rallies, Voodoo Hatter becomes more and more recognizable among the community and being able to experience that first hand is incredible!

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Downtown Sturgis 2016

Enjoying Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Voodoo Hatter is even respected among celebrities! We’re absolutely delighted to see such a wide range of stars enjoying our hats!

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Steven Tyler of Aerosmith looking absolutely characteristic in an El Dorado

Elvis Nolasco of American Crime rocking an El Dorado

Anastasia Baranova of Z Nation wearing an El Dorado.

It really isn’t hard to see why Voodoo Hatter is so well loved! When you put on a topper by Voodoo Hatter it invokes an adventurous spirit that’s sure to take you to new places! When it comes to Voodoo Hatter, the meek need not apply!

Do you believe in MAGIC? American Hat Makers does!

August 11, 2016American Hat Makers Leave a comment

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.

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!

Written by Jessica Johnson exclusively for American Hat Makers

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

August 6, 2016American Hat Makers Leave a comment

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

Written by Jessica Johnson exclusively for American Hat Makers.

Introducing our New Line: Freedom Hats

July 23, 2016American Hat Makers Leave a comment

Let Freedom Ring!

All of us at American Hat Makers are excited to announce our newest line of hand-crafted, top-of-the-line hats:

Freedom Hats

Freedom Hats are the ultimate in durable, luxurious, one-of-a-kind outdoor hats. And, like all of our hats, they are suitable for all of your adventures – from kayaking to golfing, horseback riding to gardening, hiking to rock climbing and anything else you do!

Made from the same high-quality, 100% sourced and produced in the USA materials as all of our American Hat Makers hats, Freedom Hats offers you an exceptional deal on limited run hats.

Our vision for Freedom Hats is to produce hats that live up to our high American Hat Maker quality standards while offering exceptional value to you. We do this by producing hats based on the availability of exclusive materials – which are then used to produce a limited run.

With this model we are able to offer these unique hats to you at an amazing price.

If you are interested in taking advantage of this unprecedented opportunity to buy from American Hat Makers act fast! Each season our line of Freedom Hats will change based on the availability of materials. While we require you to place an order for a minimum of 12 hats in the same style keep in mind this is not a pre-pack – you get to choose the colors and sizes of your hats!

Don’t forget, each and every hat from our Freedom Hat line is produced, by hand, in our Watsonville shop. Each hat adheres to our high-quality standards and is backed by our exclusive unconditional lifetime guarantee:

We guarantee our hats for a lifetime against defects in materials and workmanship.

We include our sizing system with your order. This allows your hat to be adjusted to three different sizes. Should you need a different size than this allows, we will gladly exchange your hat for a perfect fit. Simply return the hat in the original box with a note as to what you need, and we will send you the appropriate replacement. By the same token, if the color of the hat is not what you expected we will exchange for another of our standard colors at no extra charge.

Our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee speaks for itself. Should the hat not meet up to any of your expectations, simply return the hat to us for a full refund (less shipping costs)……no questions asked.

We are proud to introduce you to Freedom Hats and look forward to offering you another way to enjoy all the benefits of our high-quality, handcrafted hats at an amazing cost savings!

Contact us NOW at 1-800-NICE-HAT to get in on this incredible new opportunity!

Photographer: Neil Simmons

Stylist: Ruby Roxanne Agresta

Models: Greg Flowers, Heather Bonds and Nicole Hatsedakis Happee

Catalog Design: Nikki Wolf

Blog Post Written by: Jessica Johnson

Big Hats for Big Heads ~ We Got ’em!

July 1, 2016American Hat Makers Leave a comment

If you have a larger than average head, finding a hat that not only fits properly, but is flattering as well, can be a big hassle.

But not here at American Hat Makers! We proudly offer hats in large sizes all the way up to 5XL.

Did you know that your hat size doesn’t change, once you are an adult? So although you may wear different pant sizes over the years, your hat size will stay the same.

If your head – measured around the largest part of your head – is between 23 5/8” and 24- 1/8” you are an XL. If your head measures 24 7/8” to 25 3/8” you are a 3X.

And we have you covered, no matter what size you are!

Take Jeff, for example. We met him at our recent Hat Day in the Sun event where we gave away over 500 sun protection hats including many from our top-selling SolAir line. Jim came by with his wife and was helping her select a free hat to wear.

When we asked Jeff where his hat was, he sadly told us he had a larger head and was never able to find a hat that fit him.

“And if I find one that fits, it never looks right,” he said.

Well, it was Jim’s lucky day! We were more than happy to run into the warehouse and find him a hat that fit – and looked great too!

If you want more information about finding a hat to fit your head and your lifestyle, come visit us at The Hat Hangar. We are located at 125 Aviation Way in Watsonville, CA and we are always happy to help you find just the right hat!

American Hat Makers in the Community: Headwear for the Homeless

May 24, 2016American Hat Makers Leave a comment

At American Hat Makers we are dedicated to operating our business with the same level of integrity and compassion that we strive to bring to our day to day lives. We treat each and every team member as though they were family, for indeed, they are.

Our dedication to sustainable and compassionate business practices extends far beyond the walls of our Watsonville warehouse. We believe in supporting the organizations that support our local community and are always willing to contribute high-quality donations for local events such as prizes or silent auctions for non-profit organizations.

One of our most fulfilling campaigns is Headwear for the Homeless. Last winter we teamed up with The Headwear Association for the Eighth Annual Headwear for the Homeless Hat Giveaway.

In conjunction with the Bollman Hat Company, Magid Hats, and Dorfman Pacific we distributed more than 5,000 free winter hats from New York City to Santa Cruz.

“We gave at least 200 beanies away at the homeless shelter. Afterwards we walked the streets and passed out free hats to anyone we thought may be cold. It was a great experience. The event was truly amazing to be a part of, and teaching our daughters about local philanthropy has been priceless,” recalls Hannah Watrous, Director of Global Marketing for American Hat Makers.

Hannah Watrous is a driving force behind American Hat Makers’ charitable and philanthropic giving. With a background and degree in Addiction Counseling, she brings a compassionate and insightful mindset to the business. Hannah’s open heart and dedication to service contribute to the giving culture at American Hat Makers. She is a tremendous role model.

We are honored and pleased to be able to help others and support the residents, schools and other organizations doing good work in Santa Cruz County. We are truly grateful to be a part of this thriving and caring community!

Happy Birthday to Gary Watrous!

May 16, 2016American Hat Makers Leave a comment

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

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.”

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!

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!

Get to Know Garth Watrous – the Businessman

May 9, 2016American Hat Makers Leave a comment

Garth Watrous grew up in the hat making world watching his dad, Gary, create one-of-a-kind artisan hats in his workshop. Later, Garth would join his dad at art fairs and festivals as Gary made a name for his skilled handiwork and artistry and began to build the Head ’N Home Hats brand.

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Surely influenced by his early exposure to entrepreneurship, Garth went on to earn his business degree from San Diego State University. He came home to Watsonville and became a proud partner of American Hat Makers with his father in 2005.

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In the decade since Garth has been – as he likes to say – “at the rudder” of the company business has doubled…twice! But don’t think that Garth is satisfied with that, because you would be wrong. Garth says his goal for the American Hat Makers is “to be the #1 hat company in the world.”

That, he says, will come through cultivating the best from the dedicated and talented team at American Hat Makers; making solid, authentic industry connections; and by bringing greater exposure to the exceptional and unique line of products designed and manufactured at their Watsonville, California facility.

“We are already the #1 cut and sew hat maker,” he explains, “and that sets us apart from the competition.”

There are other things that set American Hat Makers apart from the competition as well, and one of them is their outstanding level of customer service. Each hat sold comes with an unconditional lifetime guarantee. “Our customer service is second to none, and on top of that, our marketing team is incredible!” Garth says. “To be the best you have to play in all areas.”

Speaking of playing in all areas, Garth doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk. Garth spends a good deal of time nurturing business relationships through his positions as Vice-President of the Board of Directors of The Headwear Association and as a member of the American Made Matters Board of Directors. In addition, American Hat Makers is expanding it’s global presence with growing sales worldwide. Garth shares that the Asian market is growing rapidly – especially Tibet!

With Garth’s visionary, dynamic business sense and an unparalleled team at his side, there is no doubt that American Hat Makers will continue to grow in innovation, production and global recognition.

On Top of the World at Hat-A-Palooza

August 24, 2015American Hat Makers Leave a comment

Hat-A-Palooza is an annual mixer for the members of The Headwear Association. The Headwear Association (THA) is a 106-year-old association, the oldest in the fashion industry. They are committed to globally promoting the headwear industry. Hat-A-Palooza provides a platform to bridge gaps connecting the worlds best hat makers and designers. This year, American Hat Makers/Head’n Home Hats was invited to attend Hat-A-Palooza III, at the Stratosphere in Las Vegas !

“It was 118 degrees outside, walking to the car was like bikram yoga, but we made it”, said Garth. “We are so pleased to be recognized in this elite gathering of like minded individuals. This event gives us the opportunity to emerge among, and alongside the world’s best hat makers. It’s wonderful to be recognize. We’ve been doing hats for 40 years, and now that there is a higher demand for leather, our “cut and sew” method is being recognized. We’re honored to be contenders in this industry”.

Garth reflects, “We were in the Stratosphere, literally on top of the world, sitting at the ’round table’ with the best of the best, discussing our futures in hat industry. And, we’re having some fun in the process too”.

It was a pleasure to meet Preston Souza, of Liberty Fashion & Lifestyle Fairs. His “fashion forward” approachable style is top notch in sales etiquette, and technique.

Garth Watrous with Joel Johnston of White Wing.

Beth Watrous with Amber Fekete, Tere Cutler & Monty Goodson of Overland Outfitters.

It’s easy to see why we do this, everyone looks good in a hat.

Garth and Zach Belinski from Village Hat Shop.

Gerry Miller – Sales Manager, Stetson Hats, and Garth.

Steve Wood with Hattitude, relaxing with Beth.

Hannah and Beth Watrous enjoying the view from the Stratosphere.

Matt Katz – Bollman Hat Co.

Our own Cynthia with James Nelson of Nelson Leather Company, and Beth.

Don Rongioni of Bollman Hat Company, John, Garth and Suzi .

American Hat Makers

We are THE #1 hat manufacturers in North America who produce quality leather hats to fit any personality.

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