Today we’d like to introduce you to Keryn Nicholson.
Keryn, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started making hats in 2018 in my kitchen. It all started after my father gave me his old Stetson which I loved wearing but it never quite fit me properly. Then I started going to vintage shows around California and found myself always drawn to hats with a history. They were always too small so I started to tweak, stretch and adjust them to suite my needs. After one hat maker agreed to letting me tour his workshop, I came home and did a ton of research for the next few weeks. I ordered my first steamer and made some invaluable connections (through making tons of phone calls and sending emails )that led me to ordering my first set of felts. After I made the first few, I started an Instagram account mostly for my friends to follow along if they wanted to. One friend order led to another and now almost three years later, I am booked out for three months and have been able to quit my other job and become a full-time hatter.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest struggle is typically waiting on materials. I get my felts from an American facility and there is usually a long wait during certain times of the year which can be challenging.
Nicholson Hat Co. – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a custom hat company, making bespoke hats made from the finest felts in America that are built to last a lifetime. Now that I’ve started to build a reputation in the Central Valley, I’m starting to get a lot more requests for classic western style hats. I don’t know if I’m really known yet for one particular style, I think I’m still working on that. I’m very proud to be a woman maker in a craft that’s historically been male-dominated. I just like being part of this very small club.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Making my dad his first custom hat.
Pricing:
- Custom hats start at $400
Contact Info:
- Address: 707 E Shields Ave
Fresno, CA 93704 - Website: https://nicholsonhatco.wixsite.com/nicholsonhatco
- Phone: 5593850909
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Instagram.com/nicholsonhatco
- Facebook: Facebook.com/nicholsonhatco
Image Credit:
Dakota Lynn Photography, Theresa Jebian
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