The last couple years have been a challenge on many fronts. We're pleased to say that we're redesigning our on line presence and introducing a beautiful new website, coming soon!

San Francisco Hat Company

Our hats have been to tea with the queen, been photographed by Lord Snowden on the Issey Miyake runway, and brightened the covers of fashion magazines, and they’ve made life easier on tractors, river rapids, arctic expeditions.

Besides being beautiful, our hats are supremely functional, sun blocking, moisture wicking, packable, and comfortable in all kinds of weather. We make hats that work so you can play.

Designed and made in California

With a tip of our hat to the venerated seminal East Bay outdoor industry. Our first workplace was down the street from Sierra Design and several blocks from The North Face, where Stefan did a stint as a tent designer. Our cutting tables, die cutters, and assorted tools came from The North Face, as did our hat pressman and two top sewers, including Hisako Haskins, credited as one of the founding creatives of The North Face.

Why Panama hats? Stefan traveled extensively in Ecuador – river rafting, researching vegetable ivory, designing a commercial food dryer for local production by Manabi Agriculture. His travels introduced him to panama hats and to the people and culture that produced them. Handwoven of sustainably harvested toquilla straw, the panama hat is a miracle of craftsmanship, beauty and utility, providing light, comfortable, ventilated sun protection, a practical necessity at the equator and a unisex staple of the indigenous wardrobe.

Why Riverz? Palm straw panamas are practical and beautiful, but as we discovered on a rafting trip down the San Juan River in Utah in 100+ degree heat, they won't withstand extreme conditions or activities. We determined to design a hat in the panama style, woven of polypropylene Techstraw, a hat that would be amphibious, maintain shape and function when wet, endure in challenging conditions. Born on the river, field tested around the globe. Long lived and expedition strong.