Century-old American Hat Company rides wave of sturdy demand

Business has reportedly been booming for American Hat Company – a Texas-based cowboy hat producer – because the 2018 launch of the hit Western TV sequence “Yellowstone.”

Founded in 1915 and headquartered in Bowie, Texas, the corporate focuses on handmade felt and straw cowboy hats supplied in a variety of trims, colours and shapes. Demand has soared so excessive that the enterprise is now years out on orders, based on firm president Keith Mundee.

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“People were clamoring for something that was truly American or kind of going back to their roots,” Mundee informed FOX Business. “… The Western lifestyle became very popular.”

The firm follows an roughly 18-step course of to remodel uncooked supplies like straw and fur into even a fundamental cowboy hat, he mentioned.

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While the enterprise does supply a few of its supplies from areas outdoors the nation, its hats are majority American-made. They “live up to the standard of style, quality and durability” that may be anticipated from a product made within the U.S., based on the corporate’s web site.

“It just doesn’t make sense to import any finished goods,” Mundee mentioned. “… We will import raw material, but it’s not something anybody could wear or use.”

American Hat Company sells its cowboy hats to retailers throughout the nation like Cavender’s, National Roper’s Supply and The Best Hat Store. Its merchandise may also be present in shops in Canada, Australia and Germany, based on the corporate’s web site.

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The retail producer’s hottest cowboy hat is named the 40X. Made from 40% beaver and 60% hare, the 40X is available in 14 completely different colours, and has a self-band and buckle set as its trim. However, the “best” hat the corporate makes, Mundee mentioned, is named 1,000X. It’s constituted of the underfur of a beaver blended with mink, is available in 4 completely different colours, and its trim can be a self-band and buckle set.

“That [1,000X] hat in a silver belly color is going to retail for about $4,800,” Mundee mentioned.

While American Hat Company’s major focus is creating high quality merchandise utilizing conventional crafting strategies, what drives its workers is its dedication to patriotism, religion, honoring the navy, and upholding the “spirit of the American West,” based on its web site. Each hat additionally dons an American flag no matter its trim.

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“I’m really not selling cowboy hats as much as I’m selling the national anthem, the opening prayer, respect for our military, respect for first responders,” Mundee mentioned. ” … It’s important to bring up the younger generation and have them have a reverence for our country, our flag.”