Searching for the Perfect Baseball Hat: My Story
I was never a person who wore hats. As I started out in my professional tech career, I had a loose desire to dress better, which turned into a casual interest in men's fashion and its evolution over the past 200 years. I love history and so I read several books with a historical bent like Alan Flusser's classic "Dressing the Man" and László Vass & Magda Mólnar's "Handmade Shoes For Men." I was struck by how integral hats have been to men's fashion throughout most of history, and how they've fallen out of favor since the 1950s (perhaps best marked by JFK's decision not to wear a hat at his presidential inauguration in 1961).
I wanted to try wearing hats as a regular thing, both for fashion and for function. I like styles that are on the edge of mainstream, interesting and unique, but still echo classic lines and heritage. (Classic designs are timeless for a reason.) I wanted something versatile, something I could wear no matter what I was doing. I wanted it to be accessible, nothing stuffy or pretentious. A baseball cap seemed perfect.
However when I went searching for a baseball cap, I struggled to find something I connected with. Most baseball caps are made using cotton twill fabrics, which are durable but boring (to me), and usually sport prominent logos. Whereas I love natural fiber textiles with interesting pattern and texture, and a nod to classic menswear styles.
I'd been learning to sew for a few years as a side hobby, mostly so I could create custom clothing that fit me better. After months of fruitless searching, I decided to try sewing my own hat. I had a clear vision in mind: a baseball cap using top quality textiles with a nod to classic menswear. I imagined something like what you'd find in a finely made suit or jacket, just crafted into a baseball hat you could dress up or down, whether wearing a suit or a t-shirt.
Well, it turns out baseball caps are much harder to sew than I thought. It's nothing like sewing a tshirt or a jumpsuit. My first attempt was abysmal. My second attempt was also pretty bad, my third a little less bad, and on it went until finally on my 8th attempt I had something I was proud to wear. I still wear that hat to this day.
I loved the creative aspect of designing and creating so much that I decided to turn it into a business. I partnered with a 100-year-old manufacturer based in Los Angeles to help me create at scale.
Now I can proudly offer you these fine baseball caps, made with quality textiles, careful craftsmanship and classic designs. I believe in clothing that lasts and I think we've made a hat that has both the physical durability and fashion durability to last you for the next 50 years. To me that's sustainable fashion.
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Christian
