Gary Watrous began leatherwork in 1972. His love for the feel and responsiveness of leather, as well as a constant demand for his creations have kept him working within this medium. Fond of hats since childhood, it was only natural that he settled into designing and creating leather headwear exclusively in 1979. Gary's familiarity with leather and it’s incredible properties enabled him to develop a treatment that allowed construction of a lightweight hat that could be creatively shaped and re-shaped. Gary’s workmanship along with the fine leathers chosen for use, blend to make highly prized one of a kind statements.

Garth Watrous, Gary’s youngest son, began a full time partnership with the brothers in 2003. Weaned on leather, Garth had always been in some way involved in either the sale, production, or destruction of the leather hats. Once completing his education process with his bachelors degree, Garth brought to the table a sparkling people personality and a keen eye for what works and what people want. He has naturally picked up a knack for working with the hat styling and raw materials he has grown up with.

Gary, Lee, and Garth often work together on each others designs: finishing, tweaking, and embellishing to get that final fit and special look each hat deserves. Gary, Garth, and Lee have assistants to help in the construction process.

Creative Techniques
Each piece is hand constructed. Most use a fine top grain cowhide, boarsuedes, and assorted mesh and fabrics, which are hand-formed, then glued and sewn together. The individual shaping and characterizing then begins. Each hat is wetted and rewetted, formed, pushed and prodded until it has just the right styling. It is then trimmed with domestic or exotic (non-endangered) skins. Creative uses of coins, conchos, and bones are also used to give each piece a one of a kind appeal.

Traditional techniques with an emphasis on handwork are used exclusively. Fine fashion colored skins brings in a soft feminine look to many of his pieces. One cannot limit by definition the type of hats that roar out of head 'n home. The range is from the most elegant, feminine creation to a down right crusty piece that looks worn for decades. Each piece is an artistic, functional statement.