The Hatwater Story
A great hat is more than something you wear.
It reflects the way you carry yourself, the pride you take in your appearance, and the values you choose to live by.
We believe the felt hat deserves to be part of everyday life again—not as a costume or a statement, but as a timeless piece of everyday style. A hat should be worn often, shaped by experience, and become as familiar as your favorite pair of boots or your most trusted jacket.
Simple ideas
Our designs are inspired by California, where Western heritage and city life have always existed side by side. That unique intersection defines everything we create. Every crown, every brim, and every detail is designed to feel equally at home on a neighborhood street in Los Angeles, along the California coast, or on a quiet country road…
Lasting impact
But Hatwater was never intended to be just another hat company.
It was created to build something many people are searching for today—a sense of belonging.
The word "Boyz" represents more than our name. It reflects the belief that people long to be part of something genuine. A place where craftsmanship is respected, friendships are formed, and familiar faces are always welcomed back.
We hope Hatwater becomes that place.
A place where you're remembered by name.
Where conversations matter as much as the hats themselves.
Where collecting hats is secondary to building relationships.
Every hat we make reflects our commitment to craftsmanship, timeless design, and honest work.
Every person who walks through our doors is welcomed with the same respect.
Because while we make hats...
What we're really building is a community.
Welcome to the Boyz.
Hi, I’m Mark.
A Message From the Founder
Some companies begin with a business opportunity.
Hatwater began with a memory.
I grew up in Atwater Village, Los Angeles, where my older brother introduced me to Western hats and country music. Though we were raised in the heart of the city, he embraced the spirit of an urban cowboy. Those weekends spent at country concerts left me with something far more meaningful than a love for hats—they taught me that a great hat reflects confidence, character, and individuality.
As I grew older, I became fascinated by old photographs of Los Angeles from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. Men from every walk of life wore hats every day. They weren't fashion statements or reserved for special occasions. They were simply part of how a man carried himself.
Somewhere along the way, we lost more than the habit of wearing hats.
We lost some of the craftsmanship, pride, and sense of belonging they represented.
Hatwater was born from a desire to carry those values forward—not by recreating the past, but by building something timeless for the future.
Growing up, if you were from Atwater, you were known as an "Atwater Boy." It meant you belonged. It meant people knew your name, looked out for you, and welcomed you as one of their own. Many of those friendships remain some of the strongest relationships in my life today.
That's the spirit behind Hatwater Boyz.
I want every person who walks through our doors to feel more than welcomed. I want them to feel known. I want Hatwater to be the kind of place where conversations are remembered, handshakes become friendships, and customers become part of a community. A place where people don't just come to buy a hat—they come because they feel they belong.
Every Hatwater hat is designed to be worn, shaped by the life you live in it, and become part of your story. I hope that when you put on your Hatwater, you're reminded that character never goes out of style—and that there's always a place where you'll be welcomed as one of the Boyz.
Thank you for being here.
Welcome home.
— Mark Bradford
Founder, Hatwater Boyz