Blog

Happy 4th of July!

July 3, 2013

Independence Day reminds us that we live in a country that gives us a chance to work hard and make a difference.  Many of our products are made by people with that philosophy. For them, made in the USA is a mark of pride.

Welch Suspenders

The Welch Company Inc. has been manufacturing suspenders in Portland, Oregon since 1967. Their suspenders are recognized for quality and reliability. We sell both X-back and Y-back suspenders with either clip ends or leather ends that fasten to buttons.   

Learn more here.

  

Geier Gloves

Geier Glove Company is from Centralia, Washington. They’ve been around for over seventy years. They’re known throughout the West for high-quality gloves and moccasins. We provide gloves in deer, goat, kangaroo, bison and elk skin.

Learn more here.

  

Cavin Richie

Cavin’s designs are a reflection of his surroundings. His line includes birds, mammals and amphibians. Each item is accurately detailed. For the past thirty years he has carved using shed elk antler and woolly mammoth ivory. These carvings became the basis for his lost wax casting jewelry.

“Carving,” says Cavin “is like touching antiquity. I feel a kinship with a long lineage of carvers dating back to the Pleistocene.”

Learn more here.

 

  

  

  

  

Pictures from a Friend in Japan

May 24, 2013

Our friend, Daisuke, is a whip enthusiast hailing all the way from Japan. He was a member a wild west show, so he really knows how to crack a whip!

He also practices the art of Morishige-ryuu Houjyutsu. This is a type of matchlock shooting that began in the 1500s. At the time, Portuguese traders had made it to Japan and brought with them the arquebus, a muzzle-loaded firearm with a matchlock. They became so popular that in true Japanese fashion, shooting these firearms became an art form.

The seven pictures below are from a demonstration in Tokyo with the final photo showing Daisuke with his firearms.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Daisuke also has friends in New Mexico. Tom and Jennifer Curtis are famous silversmiths. Here are some photos of his visit there:

   

 

 

   

Demonstration at a school in Albuquerque:

   

The Indian Market in Santa Fe:

   

Daisuke in front of beautiful Mt. Fuji with his Jeep CJ-7.

   

Thanks, Daisuke for the great pics.

   

   

   

Hat Bashing Videos Now on YouTube

May 10, 2013

In this first video, Mike shows you how to create the Open Telescope and Pinched Telescope bash.

 

 

In this second video, Mike shows you how to create the classic fedora look and the cattleman’s crease.

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT:

Akubra Hats

 

 

 

 

Bolo Ties by Frederick Design

April 25, 2013

Frederick Design creates elegant and affordable jewelry made of lead-free pewter. The jewelry is hand-crafted in Canada by various artists, including First-Nations.

  

We now carry two pewter bolo ties from Frederick design. The first is the Orca Bolo, shown leaping out of the water.

  

Orca Bolo Tie, Pewter

Orca Bolo Tie, Pewter

  

The second depicts the raven stealing the sun. Unlike our other raven jewelry, this shows a frontal view of the raven holding the sun in its beak.   

Raven Stealing The Sun Bolo Tie, Pewter

Raven Stealing The Sun Bolo Tie, Pewter

  

The black cord is machine-braided synthetic material. Overall length, not including the metal tips, is 36 inches.

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT:

Frederick Design

  

  

  

  

Visit One of Our Akubra Dealers

April 12, 2013

Do you want to try an Akubra without having to fly out to Seattle, Washington? There are many hat retailers around the United States and Canada that offer a variety of Akubra hats. In fact, some dealers offer styles and colors not available on our website.

With a local dealer you are also supporting your local business. As hat sales continue to grow, you can be assured that the more the retailers sell, the more they can offer.

Your local hat dealer also carries hat stretchers, brushes and many will even custom shape your hat.

So, when looking for an Akubra, don’t forget to see if there is a dealer in your neighborhood.

Check our dealer page to see if there is one near you.  

 

 

 

 

Kickin’ It Up!

March 29, 2013

Kickin’ up the back brim of your hat can add an additional flare to your Akubra. Your hat will have more of a fedora style than the traditional Aussie style.

It’s easy to kick up the back brim. All you need is a little steam from a tea kettle. Run the steam over the top of the brim for just a few seconds to get it soft. Then, push up the back from underneath with your thumbs. Push up at the base of the brim, right where it meets the crown.

You can watch this video to see how to steam your hat.

 

Cattleman, kicked up

The Cattleman, kicked up.

 

 

Banjo, kicked up

Banjo, kicked up

 

Traveller, kicked up

Traveller, kicked up

LEARN MORE ABOUT:

 Akubra Hats

 

 

 

 

How to Adjust Your Welch Suspenders

March 15, 2013

Welch suspenders are world-renowned for their quality. They are made in the USA, in Hillsboro, Oregon. David Morgan sells a variety of suspenders ranging from formal to casual wear. They can be worn for light or for heavy, outdoor work. We also sell suspenders to hold up heavy utility belts worn by police officers.

Some customers have difficulty in adjusting the length of the suspenders. The trick into getting the clasps back into position is to use your thumbs on the front and your index fingers on the back. Once the teeth are in place, you must push up with your thumbs and push down with your index finger. You will feel the top of the clasp fall into place.

We’ve created a video that shows this. If you still have any questions, please contact us.

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT:

Welch Suspenders

 

Ready for Adventure!

March 1, 2013

No search for treasure is possible without the essentials. Protect your head from blistering sun, spiders and snakes (or just rain) with a real, rabbit-fur felt hat. The Adventurer is an open-crown hat that can be shaped just like the legendary archaeologist’s own fedora. It was designed by Akubra with specs from the prop master of Indy IV.

Our leather gloves are made from deerskin or kangaroo. Don’t be fooled by how soft and thin the kangaroo leather is, it’s incredibly tough. Gloves are available in brown, black or gold.

 And for those rare cases where you just might need a bullwhip

 

 

 

Who Says Fedoras Are Only for Men?

February 14, 2013

There’s no question that Akubras look classic and stylish on men. But they also look great on women! We’ve already mentioned The Hampton, but other hats look great, too. We have several open-crown hats that you can crease yourself, or keep them uncreased, such as with The Adventurer, below. Our open-crown hats include The Sydney, The Bushman and The Slouch.

adventurer1

The Adventurer, in black.

 

adventurer2

The Adventurer

 

If you’re looking for a straw hat, our Gambler has a telescope crown, which you may find more interesting than our straw fedoras.

 

Gambler

Gambler

 

WESA 2013 a Great Success!

February 1, 2013

The Western and English Sales Association convention in Denver was a tremendous success. This year, Alex and Mike took reins of the booth. They met a few of our vendors and met some new wholesale customers that we’ll be excited to do business with.

denver hotel room

Denver from the hotel room.

It’s a cold day for those of us from Seattle! Temps down to zero at night.

denver at night

Denver Federal Building at night.

 

fire dance

The fashion show begins with a fire dance.

 

fashion show

Fashion Show

 

fashion show

Fashion Show

 

fashion show

Fashion Show

 

 

fashion show

Fashion Show

 

downtown denver

Downtown Denver

 

mike long oval

Mike makes a long oval

 

david morgan booth

The David Morgan booth

 

just one beer

Just one beer will do

 

bc hats

Edward Strozier and Will Conner from BC Hats

 

dinner

Dinner companions: BC Hats, Shady Brady Hats and Akubra Hats

 

alex at booth

Alex watching the booth