Stetson and Taylor Stitch went on the road with photographer Brent Whaley and artist Shane Miller from Joshua Tree to Alabama hills and onto Yosemite.

Shane Miller is a self-taught artist who’s work explores the emotions of dreams, distant memories, and silent emotions left unexpressed. Through a contemporary approach, Shane depicts the landscapes of the mind in a way to allow the viewer to reflect on their own experiences. Shane wears the Dune 5X Gun Club Hat in Acorn

Shane and Brent met over a year ago when Brent drove down to Nashville, TN to pick up a piece Brent comissioned from Shane. The two struck up a friendship while visiting different bars around Nashville and have since been on a few adventures together.

The apparel Shane wears is by Taylor Stitch, products built for the long haul and use the most sustainable fabrics available – even if that means making it themselves.

Shane draws inspiration from his outdoor adventures.

“We are a two-man show, a modern-day mom & pop shop, and we look to this season as a time for recharging.”-Sara Mae Zandi

Stetson visits the power couple in Bovina, NY at their Brushland Eating House to connect with them on the transition from the warm, bustling summer months to the now cold, sleepier winter months. Photography by Noah Kalina. Follow his work here.

Sara wears the West Bound B Limited Edition in Caribou and Sohail wears the Open Road Royal Deluxe in Sage.

Winding down rural roads, preserved post & beam barns and wide pastures bespeckled with cattle, you might imagine that this is the kind of town, as it may seem in constant contrast to New York City, that always sleeps. Save for the few chimneys piping out tiny whispers of wood smoke and the occasional rumbling tractor, Bovina can feel the kind of quiet that you only read about in verse. It is Fall, the last of the ochre leaves have drifted, like parchment from a slick counter, out into the wind and for goodness sake, the tiny hamlet needs a break.

The warmer months, with their gaggle of visitors, clambering for pond dips, is a whirlwind of energy —— for Sara & Sohail of Brushland Eating House, it is ‘season.’ Nestled into a town that for a stint was the dairy capital of the nation, Brushland is now, like the creameries were then, the anchor of Bovina. In the summer months leading to September, early mornings blur into dusk. Wine, bottle by bottle, go empty. Tables, stay full. Upstairs, at the Inn, chess pieces bounce and records blare Sam Cooke. Feet march up and down the stairs with more and more wildflowers picked. It’s Summer, after all, and town is abuzz with revelers.

For the love of homesteading, Sara & Sohail’s life when it’s this warm, looks quite like a Norman Rockwell; a flock of chickens peck furiously at stone walls, their dogs meandering in and out of the feeding frenzy. In the garden, squash the size and color of those in fairy tales, wind in and out of meticulously maintained beds, most of which are teeming with peas and radishes and borage and chamomile. Chores, inn-keeping and food preparation collide with midday swims and watermelon gulping, making for a cacophony that can only be described as ‘happy, delirious chaos.’

In the cool, sleepier months, there must be a reset. Neither a hard button to press nor a changing of the guard, it is about stealing away into peaceful, dim corners of the same spaces that once overflowed with full bellies and joyous laughter. Nodding off again after a coffee in bed, tucking into the patch of light on the guest room floor, kicking a foot onto the desk and leaning back, just for some quick shut-eye before the shop is open. For in a few short months when the hills are awash in a plethora of greens and golds, and the hay trailers rumble past at a furious pace, and guests check in one after another after another, we can fondly look back on the hush that was.

by Nick Pacione

‘Off the Open Road’

At the end of the open road lies a new one.. a path less paved where nothing’s for certain.
At the end of the open road, you replace what you know with what you’re learning.
Where there’s less signage and more pondering— less control and more feeling.

There are places just beyond the open road where few have wandered,
and fewer still have lingered.
Places just beyond the open road where our frontier is still expanding.

Where what you’ve seen and heard of slips into unknowing.
Where the trees sway in rhythm and the wind does its singing.
Where the sky’s always shifting, and some kind of balance— persisting.

Off the open road, man’s domain becomes nature’s.
A place where we can teach ourselves to slow down and listen.
Dark nights are darker, and brighter stars glisten.

Off the open road is the beginning of a new one… a path less paved where nothing is for certain.
Off the open road, you leave the world you left and become what you’re becoming.
Somewhere off the open road,
you find what you’ve been missing.

—Nick Pacione

The SEAGER X STETSON Collaboration has arrived. Shop the Bull Session 4x Hat and the Lasso Crushable Outdoor hat at seagerco.com.

Imagery shot with Seager Co alongside Ryan Valasek for the Fall 2018 launch in Montana
Talent: Tanner Johnson

The Seager x Stetson ‘Lasso’ Outdoor Crushable is constructed of crushable wool felt and features a pinch front crown, leather hat band and an adjustable leather chin strap. Made in USA. 3 1/2″ Brim. Seager and Stetson in Good Company. The West, as it once was.

The Seager x Stetson ‘Bull Session’ is the Seager Co take on an original early 20th century Stetson. It features a cattleman crown and ribbon hat band. 4X quality wool felt, made in the USA. 3 1/2″ brim with Western flange and a custom Seager horseshoe pin. Seager and Stetson in Good Company. The West, as it once was.

My brother Gus got orders to move from Eglin Air Force Base in Destin, Florida to Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska. Since he was driving coast to coast, I invited myself along for the road trip. This was going to be the road trip of all road trips.

We left the sunny beach side of Florida and drove through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Since Texas is home, we said goodbye to our family and friends before the road became our temporary home. New Mexico was a restful stop before we ventured into colorful Colorado. Wyoming was next on the list and the drive was full of rolling plains, wild horses, and mountains peeking in the distance.

We had one night in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and took our boots and hats to the Jackson Hole Rodeo. The weather began to get cooler as we drove through Grand Teton National Park. The next couple of days were spent in Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone was filled with bison traffic jams, rushing waterfalls, and geysers like Old Faithful. Our journey continued into Glacier National Park in Montana where we were able to explore for a couple of days before crossing into Canada.

Glacier was peaceful, full of bears roaming around, and hidden lakes tucked between mountains. It was time to say goodbye to the untouched beauty of the National Parks in the United States and visit our neighbor to the North. Our first stop in Canada was Banff National Park in Alberta. The glacier lake of Lake Louise made an incredible backdrop in Canada, and cold crisp air began to set the fall tone.

From Banff, we drove the IceField Parkway up to Jasper National Park in Alberta. Considered one of the most beautiful drives in the world, the IceField Parkway lived up to its name. As we made our way into Jasper, the earth decided it was time for the first snowfall of the season. We woke up to 12 inches of snow, but that didn’t stop us from hiking and exploring. British Colombia was up next on the trip as we made our way west to Prince George. The last leg of the trip were long days spent in the car listening to Lonesome Dove and admiring the wildlife and the changing scenery of Canada.

Shop men’s western shirts here.

As we drove through the Yukon, we were met with the rich history of the Gold Rush and a wild place of almost no civilization. Our time on the road was coming to an end as we crossed back into the United States and into the Last Frontier of Alaska. We drove through Wrangell-St. Elias National Park while Anchorage was looming ahead. Just as change was coming into Gus’ life with a new base and a new home, the Aspen trees lining the roads were changing colors as well. Our first weekend in Alaska consisted of heading to Kenai Fjords National Park to whale watch, see the sea lions, and discover the Alaskan Coast. The beauty of Alaska had already begun to take our breath away as we started to reflect on our once in a lifetime road trip.

Our road trip ended up being two weeks, 5,646 miles, 5 National Parks in the United States, and 2 National Parks in Canada. We crossed 10 States in the U.S., 2 Providences, and 1 Territory of Canada. We hiked a total of 25 miles across both the United States and Canadian National Parks. I want to thank my big brother, Gus, for letting me come along and experience this unbelievable adventure. We were able to create memories together as brother and sister and photograph some of the most alluring places on earth. In the crazy, busy world we live in, this trip was the perfect opportunity to sit back and marvel at the beauty of the untouched land. Anchorage has been a cozy home for the past month, but it’s time for me to head back to Texas…to God’s country.

Kacie Newkirk is a freelance photographer based in Plano, Texas.  Kacie focuses on capturing the beauty and magnificence of landscapes and animals in their natural habitat.  Kacie enjoys traveling and documenting her adventures through the lens of her camera.  This road trip is one that she and her brother will always treasure.

You can see more of Kacie’s photos at www.kacienewkirkphotography.com and on her Instagram @kacienewkirk.

Inspired by the strength and vitality of the American outdoors, Stetson launches its newest addition to our Western offerings, The Stetson Monument Collection with a grand celebration at Stages West this Saturday, October 13th, 2018.

Read along for our interview with the team at Stages West in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and take a sneak peek at the latest collection.

When did the store open?

The store in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee first opened in 1975. For three generations it has been family owned and operated, maintaining a strong commitment to family, faith, and country.

In August of 2015, fire heavily damaged the store, causing it to close their doors for nearly a year. After months of patient preparation and rebuilding, they officially reopened and returned bigger, better and bolder than ever.

How has your store shaped Tennessee hat culture?

We believe that we’ve helped people become more comfortable wearing hats, as well as informing the public of the dangers of ballcaps – they aren’t fully protecting you from the sun. So many people don’t think they can wear hats, but it’s all about finding styles comfortable and fitting to your lifestyle.

What’s the best advice for a first-time hat buyer?

Get a hat that fits properly—in both size and style. There are enough headaches in life, and your hat shouldn’t be one of them. You need to be comfortable in both the fit and style of the hat. Do you. Don’t buy a hat style just because you saw someone else wear it – buy something that’s right for you.

What hat faux pas do you see most often?

Most often we see people leaving hats where they shouldn’t. People leave hats in hot cars causing them to warp. People tend to store hats or set them down improperly – hats are supposed to be set down on their crowns, so upside down, not on their rims. setting the hats down on their crown, the weight is distributed ensuring the shape of the brim doesn’t change. There’s an old saying for this reasoning – “so you don’t pour out your luck.” We also see people wearing hats backward.

Our advice:

When buying a hat, allow the hat to be a reflection of you – of what you want to be, your personality, aspirations, purpose. The hat should reflect your lifestyle.  For hat care, we tell buyers this advice: Don’t leave your hat anywhere you wouldn’t leave your kids. For example, you wouldn’t leave your kids in a hot car.

The Monument Collection

Cut from the finest leathers, and handcrafted using traditional materials and processes, this timeless collection offers versatile and unique designs, that are built to last.

As it did in 1865, Stetson today embodies the resourceful, authentic, and diverse American spirit. Rich in history, the story of Stetson continues in step with the journey of America – ever evolving and timeless.

Stetson Premier Leather – 100% proudly made in the USA.

Stop by Stages West on Saturday, October 13th for the exclusive debut and launch of Stetson’s Monument Hat Collection. For a limited time, Stages West will be the exclusive seller of Stetson’s very first leather hat collection!

With a variety of styles all inspired by America’s most beautiful National Parks, these hats are perfect for the adventurer in all of us! Made the right way–right here in the USA, Stetson Monument hats come in many materials. From waterproof to crushable leather styles, these hats are prepared for your next trip into the wild and great outdoors!

Be sure to arrive early between 9am-10am to receive 20% off your Stetson Monument Collection purchase!