Question 1

Who is Garth Watrous?

Accepted Answer

Garth Watrous is the second-generation founder and CEO of American Hat Makers. His father Gary started the company in 1972 from a Chevy station wagon. Garth joined as a partner in 2005 and formally took over in 2018, since doubling the business twice.

Question 2

What is American Hat Makers?

Accepted Answer

American Hat Makers is a 50-year-old hat brand founded in 1972 by Gary Watrous. The company has sold over one million hats and carries more than 400 styles.

Question 3

What is the Bridger hat?

Accepted Answer

Bridger is a new cap line from Garth and Hannah Watrous. Designed by Dayna Lee Cornelius, the designer behind Melin.

Question 4

How long has Garth Watrous been in the hat business?

Accepted Answer

Garth Watrous started selling hats at age 15. By 16 he was driving cross-country alone to craft shows with no GPS or cell phone. He has been in the hat business for over 35 years and has been running American Hat Makers since 2018.

Question 5

Does American Hat Makers manufacture hats in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Yes. American Hat Makers is one of the last cut-and-sew hat manufacturing facilities in the United States. The company uses the cut-and-sew method — assembling hats by hand from individual pieces of material — rather than molded construction. Labor, assembly, and finishing are domestic, based in Emory, Texas. Some raw materials are imported.

Question 6

What makes cut-and-sew hat construction different from molded hats?

Accepted Answer

Cut-and-sew hats are assembled by hand from individual pieces of material — leather, felt, or fabric cut to pattern and stitched together. Molded hats are formed by pressing material over a mold under heat and pressure. Cut-and-sew construction requires more skilled labor, produces a more consistent fit, and allows more design flexibility. American Hat Makers uses the cut-and-sew method at their facility in Emory, Texas.

Question 7

What is the lifetime guarantee on American Hat Makers products?

Accepted Answer

American Hat Makers offers a lifetime guarantee on every hat. The company stands behind the quality of their cut-and-sew construction and will work with customers to resolve any manufacturing defects. This policy reflects the company's commitment to long-term customer relationships — American Hat Makers has had repeat customers for over 50 years.

Question 8

How did Gary Watrous start American Hat Makers?

Accepted Answer

Gary Watrous started American Hat Makers in 1972 with $20 in leather and $20 in tools, selling handmade goods from a 1963 Chevy station wagon in Watsonville, California. He built the business slowly over five decades, staying through hard times including periods when the company was down to a single employee. The company is now based in Emory, Texas, employs over 100 workers, and has produced over one million hats.

Built by Hand.
Worn for Life.

From the Field

What 50 Years of Repeat Buyers Taught Me About Retention

Run the Shop You Want to Work In

What I Got Wrong About Selling Online

Patience Is the Most Underrated Strategy

How a Station Wagon Became a Workshop

Where it started.

Garth and Hannah's First Cap Together.

How a station wagon salesman became the number one hat maker in the world...

In the Press

How Garth Watrous Retains Customers with Customer Experience at American Hat Makers

Fractional Increases for Game Changing Wins

Elected President of The Headwear Association and Lieberman Award Recipient

Garth Watrous Named to National Board of The Headwear Association

AHM History and Evolution

Garth Watrous Talks Hats

Built on the floor. Written from it.

50 years of knowing exactly what makes a great hat.

Garth's own cap line. Designed by Dayna Lee Cornelius.

Fifty years of lessons, written down.

Built by Hand.Worn for Life.