Stefan just rediscovered this photo collage he made of a cozy dinner hosted by Be-Pal magazine during a Jetro trade show in Tokyo. As well as showing San Francisco Hat Company, Stefan exhibited Teva sandals and Acorn slippers for the first time in Japan.  Stefan is at the lower right.  Third from the right is Pierre Andre Senizergues, a pro skate boarder who went on to found Etnies and built what's gotta be one of the coolest houses in the world, a house he can skate board in.  Kevin Karr, on the far left, ran the State of California booth and now owns an international marketing company.

Every so often we get charming stories of where our hats are turning up: 

In early November, Rose Rose ("my married name") of San Francisco was invited to the Ferrari races held outside Florence by her cousin, who is part of the Level 5 Motorsports team.

The women on the team — staff members who arrange everything from car transport to marketing briefs — "went ga-ga" for Rose's favorite pewter Weatherlee GORE-TEX® bucket hat. So Rose bought hats for all the ladies! Rose told us that the next time the team suits up on a rainy day her go-to hat will be part of the Level 5 raingear.

On this Earth Day we remember our dear friend Edgar Wayburn who died a year ago, big hearted and sharp of mind at the age of 103. Ed was responsible for saving over 100 million acres of parkland. A recipient of the Medal of Freedom and five time president of the Sierra Club, Ed mentored generations of environmental activists.

Edgar Wayburn

Edgar Wayburn with Greg Moore, Executive Director of the Golden Gate National Parks Association on the occasion of the dedication of the Doctor Edgar and Peggy Wayburn Redwood Grove at the Presidio in San Francisco, California held on October 11, 2006 shortly after Ed's 100th birthday. Nancy Pelosi, a long-time friend of Ed's, led the dedication.

San Francisco Hat supports the Pacific Forest Trust, a group dedicated to sustainable forests founded by Ed's daughter Laurie Wayburn and Connie Best.

When the Stout Retail Association, a student academic organization on The University of Wisconsin-Stout campus, visited the San Francisco Bay area, they asked for a tour of our studio / factory. It was lots of fun for us to show off our facility to such an enthusiastic, appreciative group.

Jenna Lampe, who coordinated the event, wrote us, "What an amazing little surprise for us, we wore our hats home on the plane today. Thank you for having us and informing us on so many aspects of your company, we all loved it!"

Front Row from Left to Right- Amy Kolias, Jenna Lampe, Tara Bartolomeo, Alexia Sebesta, Maria Osenberg
Back Row from Left to Right- Rianna Segner, Chelsea Ademino, Brianna Person, Sabrina Eggersgluess, Melissa Schaefer, Mandi Anderson, Amanda Dols
All wearing our Cadets and Go-Go's

See SFHAT's Striped Ribbon Bon Bon Hat in February W, page 78, "Earn Your Stripes."

Riverz™ TechStraw™ hats are designed and built to be expedition worthy. No part is too small for our attention. Take the chin lock slider for example. We disassemble and re-manufacture each slider, adding a custom-made spring to ensure peak function even in the presence of river sand and mud.

To engineer and make this precision spring, we turned to our neighbor Scandic Springs, a manufacturer of custom springs and stampings since 1969, supplying customers like Cisco, Apple, and Tesla Motors. Scandic is also a leader is sustainable manufacturing and gets 80% of its power from its new photovoltaic roof. To keep everyone on the job comfortable (and smiling), Scandic president Hale Foote treated everyone to a warm San Francisco Hat wool cap. He says, "The hats have been very handy during the recent cold spell!"

Spank Salon in Alameda is a wonderful space - across from the marina at Svendsen's Boat Works and with a garden with pet rabbits in back. Angela Scott is the inspired owner. She cuts Stefan's hair from time to time, as does Monica.

Susan Dressler's Nofu skin care studio occupies a space on the premises features San Francisco Hat Company for sun protection and fashion.

Google Map for Nofu and Spank