HOUSTON – About 15 years ago, Houstonian Domingo Gonzales wanted a new cowboy hat. The problem was, he couldn’t find the exact style he wanted, or the perfect fit. So he took matters into his own hands and decided to try making his own. That’s when he hit the next hurdle: nobody was willing to teach him how to do it.
“The true hat maker is very secretive; nobody wants to tell you the secrets,” said Gonzales, who explained that many hat makers won’t even sell their unused equipment after they’ve retired.
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Eventually, Gonzales found a hat maker in Utah who was willing to mentor him. After a bit of trial and error, his first hat was complete.
Then something unexpected happened: a stranger approached him and asked if he could buy the hat right off his head.
“I was wearing it out and he’s like ‘I want that hat,’” said Gonzales, who reluctantly agreed to part ways with his masterpiece.
“So I made another one and then somebody asked me to buy it as well,” said Gonzales, who soon realized he was on to something.
Little by little, Gonzales bought more tools and materials, and refined his craft.
“It’s a lot of trial and error,” he explained, noting that it took much longer to create each hat in the early days.
Initially, Gonzales was making 20 to 30 hats per year, then 40 to 50. Now, he’s averaging about 200 per year.
Today, Gonzales Hat Company has found a home inside Republic Boot Co. on 11th Street in the Heights. Gonzales considers it the perfect match, since Republic is known for making custom, high-quality cowboy boots with a totally Texas vibe. On ‘Fireball Fridays’ at 3pm, LIVE bands play on the stage in the back of the store, while cocktails flow from the bar.
Gonzales says it’s just the right environment for customers to find inspiration for their next hat. They choose their color, style, and get their head measured to ensure the perfect fit, and then Domingo does the rest.
A quality product requires patience though; right now the waitlist for a hat from Gonzales Hat Company is about 10 months long.
“To me, it’s not about quantity,” said Gonzales.
“I want to be the guy that just makes the best hat.”