Oldish New Beginnings
Smithbilt Hats recently moved just down the street, into a 120-year-old reclaimed feed store that once belonged to a grain elevator that burned down in the sixties.
The old building was reborn thanks to architectural ingenuity, persevering builders and a time-honoured commitment to the classic roots of the business.
The new building is breathing fresh air into the century-old hat manufacturing business we’ve come to love and admire. It provides additional space for new additions such as a women’s millinery line and a multi-function room for small events.
You can still pick your hat and have it shaped or serviced right there by Brian and his team. With the addition of a female touch, you can now also have your personality enhanced with accessories that Holly Allen and her team add to your hat. It adds to the unique experience and definitely improves your appearance.
Smithbilt has a strong commitment and connection with the Calgary Stampede. This year, it will be part of the maker’s hall. For Canada's 150th birthday, the Stampede is adding this new initiative to help showcase the various maker arts and crafts associated with the Western heritage and culture of the show. It will include famous and new artists in buckle making, saddle making, apparel and more. Smithbilt will showcase hat making and demonstrate its unique hat shaping skills right on the floor of the exhibition. You will be able to walk away with your own hand-shaped Calgary-made Western hat.
Holly made a vital point during our most recent visit to Smithbilt. According to her, in the same way that an accessory completes an outfit, a hat gives a person personality. If it contributes that much to who we are, we wondered, surely people should take hat-wearing a lot more seriously. What you wear on your head and how you wear it tells a big story about you, your history, identity and outlook on life.
We made the discovery that Smithbilt has been giving personality to countless people since 1919. If they can’t help you, probably no one can. In our case, we have personality. Our Smithbilt hats are therefore merely enhancing it. That is why we wear ours proudly and with attitude.
Hendrik van Wyk
No comments:
Post a Comment