Was the store always a hat store?

At the beginning, for a limited time, it was a used clothing and hat store, then my father and my uncle started selling name-brand hats. When they started they didn’t know how’d it go and they just gathered steam as time went by. We are celebrating 100 years this year. We’ve been with Stetson pretty much 100 years. We carry over 300 dozen hats in stock, in over 15 colors, we carry hats sizes from 6.5 – 8. In our western line, we carry from a 3X all the way to a 1000X…that’s the highest that Stetson makes.

How much do the hats cost?

We cater to all walks of life. I have hats from $20 to $5500.

Why is the store so unique? (Specifically Abe’s wife Myrna answering)

There is a lot of magic to the store. We have all of this wonderful merchandise, but the other aspect of the success of the store is where we are. We are in San Antonio, Texas. We have the legacy of the Alamo two blocks away. We are such a historic place and Stetson is so symbolic of Americana. The Mexican culture is very rich. We have people come in from all over the world to see our city and see us. This store is a piece of Americana. And it’s because of the way we are as Texans with our culture, and it’s because of the romance and mystique of the Stetson hat. So all of that together makes for a very appealing blend for everyone who walks in. Along with the fact that we give them what they want, they walk away with an exact sculpture for their head…in any color and any quality.

Someone told me once that we sell happiness here. We have a whole experience…it’s not that they are going to come here just to buy a hat, they are going to come here to be treated as individuals and walk out the door not only having a hat, some fun with us and exchanging stories, but getting just the right thing that they’re going to have for the rest of their life. It’s an experience, not just a retail exchange.

Why is it called Paris Hatters?

Back in the day my father carried stuff from Europe. The common idea is that everything that was the best and the finest came from Paris. We didn’t think it would be a longevity thing…It just happened as time went by.

What has been a major effect on the success of your store?

There was a point where San Antonio had over 20 hatters and they started to fall away. There was a steady pattern where we just hung in there and things were fine, but then when the movies hit we saw a big resurgence in western with Urban Cowboy and it never ended, it just kept on going after that. We do a lot of hats for movies. I did three hats for Lonesome Dove. We did two hats for All the Pretty Horses and numerous hats for The Newton Boys.

There has also been a snowball effect. In our history, when we started with that increase from John Travolta wearing a hat, then there came more movies with more people wearing hats, and then we also had the advent of the world wide web. That took us from being well known among Texans to being well known pretty much all over the world. It just mushroomed even more. And of course, Stetson, with their fame and their quality has also helped.

How have you seen more recent changes in San Antonio affect your store?

We are very happy that we have the type of city government that keeps the city on the for with travelers. We just were There is so much that draws people to the city. And the city is always thinking of ways to bring us even more traffic. That’s a variable that helps us tremendously. The city is very tourist oriented. The conferences, the parties, the events…it’s a great blend for us to take advantage of being right downtown.

How do you see the next generation impacting Paris Hatters, particularly your daughter, Alexandra?

She brings a new perspective that is more socially adept. She understands marketing, the use of social media. She understands what young people want. She brings another beautiful perspective to what we know and have been doing for 100 years.

She has a lot more modern way of doing things. Quicker, easier ways of getting to the same end.

Who was the most memorable celebrity or figure who you sold a Stetson to?

Well, he was not the funniest, but the most iconic. The Pope…Pope John Paul II. Well, he’s a saint now so you can’t beat that. We “hatted” a saint! The Pope is not just there to accept gifts from just anyone, and the reason he accepted the gift is that it came from the Archbishops of Texas. It was their symbol of Texas and it’s why they chose to give him a fine Stetson. That’s how we became involved.

When someone walks in the door can you tell their hat size?

Absolutely!

Would you say people are buying more hats now than before?

Absolutely. Hands down, especially the younger generation. Fedoras, Open Roads…ten years ago you couldn’t get a teenager to wear one. Now more than ever we have younger men buying hats. They are more comfortable wearing hats now than they used to be. We have a generation of kids who are more fashion-forward.

Being behind the scenes with brothers Rusty, Ryder and Cody Wright is much like anticipating the start of a rock show as anticipation builds. Take a glimpse into a day in the life of the brothers as they prepare to ride as photographed by Rambo Elliott.

Horsin’ around.

Pre-show rituals.

Showtime wearing the Southpoint 10X Cowboy Straw Hat.

Leave it all in the ring.

You can always spot a Stetson in the crowd.

Follow Rambo on Instagram: @rambo  

Brian Esslinger, of Black Sheep Custom Leather, is a saddle maker and true leather craftsman. Originally an art student in Ohio, Brian’s desire to live and work in the West, led him first to Salt Lake City where he discovered a talent and interest in sewing and leather goods while working for a mountaineering equipment company. Brian then made his way up to Montana where he fell in love with the art of saddle making while working under a custom saddle maker in Miles City, Montana. After spending years as an apprentice, Brian opened his own custom leather workshop in historic downtown Bozeman. Brian can be found at Black Sheep Custom Leather, 16 S Wilson Ave, in Bozeman, Montana @blacksheepcustomleather.

Black Sheep Custom Leather is located at 16 South Wilson Ave in the heart of historic downtown Bozeman, MT.

Esslinger, prepping materials on his cutting table in Bozeman, MT. His workshop is much like you would expect it would be. Unassuming and authentic, everything in his shop seems to have its own story and its own unique history.

Every design is sketched by hand and is unique to each individual customer. This is where each piece begins to take on a personality all its own. A one of a kind western floral, a customer’s initials, or a cowboy’s unique brand are often incorporated into the artwork.

Once the artwork is complete, the design comes to life on a piece of leather. The beginning of an heirloom with a history that has yet to be written.

The plow gauge is a tool that originated in Europe and is used to cut straps. This particular vintage plow gauge originated in France and is a piece of art all on its own, representing the dying art of authentic quality craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Adding the finishing touches.

A view of Esslingers saddle shop is both current and nostalgic at the same time.

Esslinger lining up a pattern on a piece of leather prior to hand cutting. Shop the Catera Outdoor Hat here.

The Stetson Bozeman hangs on some saddle trees in the workshop.

Roughing in the saddle tree in preparation for leather.

A finished custom saddle represents hours of craftsmanship, attention to detail, and quality.

The saddle makers mark on a custom saddle.

Courtney Green is a fine art and editorial photographer.

She specializes in capturing the rugged, spirited beauty of life in the American West, communicated through hauntingly soulful images.   Heavily influenced by her background in fashion, her style has a timeless elegance and raw simplicity that feels both current and nostalgic.  Her images are a visual love letter to the American West.

After spending 12 years traveling the globe in the fast paced fashion industry, Courtney followed her heart to the wide open spaces of Montana where she resides with her family, her horses, and her yellow lab.

Instagram: @courtneyjgreen

“Across the American West, one can still find glimpses of authentic working ranches where life seems reminiscent of a simpler time.  Where real cowboys and cowgirls spend their days working with the land and the animals in vast landscapes largely untouched by the density and industrialization of modern times.  The cowboy life is idyllic in many ways, but the days are long, the work is hard, and for not much pay.  The reward is living in a place where you have the space to breathe, and the opportunity to pursue a life that still clings to the real authentic heritage of the West.  It is a life rooted in honest hard work, and a shared respect for the landscape and the animals that inhabit it.   Many of these ranchers are conservationists and stewards of the land as well, managing the rangeland, the resources, and the lifestyle for the hope of future generations.

Here, cowboys and cowgirls participate in a cattle branding on a ranch in the Centennial Valley, MT. Cattle branding is still the most reliable preventative measure to combat cattle theft in the American West.”   –  Courtney Green

About Courtney Green:

Courtney Green is a fine art and editorial photographer.

She specializes in capturing the rugged, spirited beauty of life in the American West, communicated through hauntingly soulful images. Heavily influenced by her background in fashion, her style has a timeless elegance and raw simplicity that feels both current and nostalgic. Her images are a visual love letter to the American West.

After spending 12 years traveling the globe in the fast paced fashion industry, Courtney followed her heart to the wide open spaces of Montana where she resides with her family, her horses, and her yellow lab.

Instagram: @courtneyjgreen

The photos I have taken are not staged in anyway. This is our day to day life.

In the high mountains of Montana on the edge of Yellowstone National Park my family owns and operates an outfitting. We’ve been in business for 36 years, taking clients on horseback rides that range from 2 hours to a pack trip into our wilderness camp that is about 22 miles out. We use Draft Cross mules from Tennessee to pack gear into our camp.

Check out our Western shirt here.

Living by Yellowstone, Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and Gallatin National Forest means there are no motorized vehicles used once you leave the county roads. So, everything we do is by horseback. Packing mules is a dying art and lifestyle, so we are proud to keep this family tradition alive. We own just over 200 head of horses and mules to keep our operation going. I am deeply humbled to be able to capture and share this unique lifestyle I’ve grown up in through the lens of my camera.

The names of those photographed are: Warren Johnson, Jeremiah Johnson, Graeson Cameron and Hunter Bell.

About the photographer:

Aimee M Johnson lives at the end of a dirt road on the edge of Yellowstone National Park; she  expanded her desire for capturing life’s moments by attending L.A. Film School.  Surrounded by the beauty of this incredible land, rugged people and amazing animals, she is delighted to record the work, hardship, and jubilation of this life with her camera.

Born with congenital birth problem, which required 5 open heart surgeries and several other ongoing surgeries. She is thrilled to be blessed with an incredible lifestyle in the high mountain country that her family calls home.

Instagram: @mountainchik

Steller: _mountainchik

Please tell us about where you live and what do?

We live in Joshua Tree, Calif. in a cabin tucked against the boulders that border the national park. Through our company, Wonder Valley, we produce beautiful and useful health and home goods that celebrate ‘Grandeur in Simplified Living’. Our design studio collaborates on branding, interior design, and photography with different clients and projects. The rest of our time, we are working away building out our family compound that includes a rehabbed 1950’s homestead cabin and 34 ft vagabond trailer.

What’s your style approach?

We both favor a seasonal uniform – timeless pieces that become a second skin and get worn over and over.

What led you to choose the Stratoliner and Open Road as staples in your wardrobe?

They’re both just such great classic styles and very versatile. I love that the Stratoliner can be worn with jeans and a t-shirt or easily dressed up. Same goes for the iconic open road. Jay and his best men wore blacks ones at our wedding.

Any tips that you can share with us for wearing and caring for a Stetson in the high desert?

We tend to live in our Stetsons so they get the wear and tear or sun, dust, sweat and if your unlucky, a dog that sits on it. There’s usually a rotation of a worn-­‐in and a fresh Stetson on our hooks.

What is a day in the life like for you in the desert?

Every day is different in terms of the work we do – whether its studio work or physical labor – but the days all start the same: meditate, exercise and stretch, and water the plants. Then we meet over coffee and breakfast at 9am to regroup over projects and goals were working towards. The days are bookended with time outside – end the day with a hike into the BLM land down the road to scramble around the boulders or have a short cocktail walk at dusk to wind down.

What inspired your decision to make the transition to living and working remotely, and what have been some of the biggest surprises and rewards that you’ve experienced in the process?

For many years the high desert landscape has been a really huge inspiration to us. Nature and its rhythms are a big part of our lives here. We have space out here, both physical and mental, which has allowed for us to explore work in new ways. So for those reasons and more, as soon as we found the right property here – which took us a good two years to nail down -­‐ we said so long to the city and dug in.

I think one of the biggest surprises are how social we are here, even more so than when we lived in big cities. The world sort of comes to us and it comes here for quality time. The biggest rewards come from the big and inherent limitations of the desert. We’ve handled the better part of building our home learning the skills as we went along because we had to. We’ve slowly built a brand from out here and that has been equally as rewarding.

What advice would you give to those out there looking to make a similar lifestyle change?

Community building is important in small towns – get to know your neighbors. Embrace the challenges because limitations can lead to great growth and surprising creative breakthroughs. Also, learn how to cook!

What’s next for Alison and Jay Carroll?

We’ve just opened the doors to our retail space in sunny Wonder Valley, California – managing that and expanding the W.V. collection.

We’re doing more collaborative cooking events and dinners like the one we just did in Tokyo with our favorite restaurant there called Eatrip. And were looking to buy property on the rural coastline of Maine to build a little summer compound there as well – desert to downeast, to us its the ultimate combination.

Bio

Jay and Alison Carroll live in California near Joshua Tree National Park. The high desert inspires their brand Wonder Valley which celebrates the beauty and simplicity of healthy rural living.

Jay: @onetrippass

Alison: @alaalison

Brand: @wondervalley / www.welcometowondervalley.com