Seasoned USA

There is a section of The Poetry of Living called “Inspiring Tales.” In many ways, that theme is the undercurrent of this entire blog. Seeking out those individuals who are pursuing dreams, striving to make a difference, following their hearts…in whatever it is they do. We are lucky enough to cross paths with some of these individuals from time to time & when they inspire us, we are excited to share their stories in the hopes that it might inspire others. When we first came across Seasoned USA we were immediately impressed with the purity of their mission and the passion behind their creations. These are not just hats…they are singular pieces of art that are, oftentimes, imbued with a rich history by virtue of the recycled materials that are thoughtfully sourced to create them. We hope that you can learn a little bit more about their unique vision thru these: “Five Questions for Seasoned USA.”

Who are the folks behind Seasoned USA & where is your home base?

Seasoned was born in a garage…really a conversation about making quality goods here in California from top to bottom. A company that strives to do things differently in business, its messaging and its products. With decades of experience in the apparel and hard goods industry, we felt compelled to take that experience and use it to build something with a point of difference that would resonate for people we work with, from our door to the doors of our customers. We believe the strength of the wolf is in the pack. Our pack is made up of BK, Brian, Keith, Pedro, Nelson, Randy, Edgar, Caleb and most importantly “The Circle” of friends and family that support us in our passion each and everyday.

Home base is right outside of L.A. in lovely Pomona, California. We are actually in one of the most historic buildings in the area. “P-town” has tons of rich history, great culture and architecture to draw inspiration from, as you drive around town you still find that much of the original manufacturing is still intact. Makers of all types of goods and various industries still create items here daily and we really like being a part of that.

There seems to be a ton of care taken to utilize unique & repurposed fabrics for your hats…from canvas, coffee bags, repurposed wool, burlap or old game jerseys. How do you source these materials?

Over the years we have been fortunate enough to meet some of the most amazing, unique and driven humans around. From these various friends and networks we’ve been able to tie into some incredible secret spots for fabrics. Our biggest thing when hunting for material is how will this be unique. From dead-stock to vintage to game worn we want our materials to be seasoned themselves and “Have A Story to Tell”.

Is there a Seasoned “mission statement”, or what would you want people to know about your general philosophy or approach?

You may have noticed on our caps we use material cut out in the form of a circle we like to call it our “know logo”. Our general philosophy is “The Circle”.

We live in a circle. The seasons fall into each other, things are made, destroyed and remade, it all turns back into itself. At Seasoned our process is no different. Using unique repurposed materials to handcraft our authentic hats right here in America, we are bringing these pieces back to life and creating something new from the past.

Seasoned isn’t a clean word, it implies use, a thing weathered and with experience. To be seasoned is to have something to say, a story to tell. We believe in stories. Not the kind you hear and forget, but the ones that tell you about the world, the ones you pass down, the ones with meaning. That’s why every material we use has a story; from the inner lining of a World War II jacket to a salt stained sailing canvas, they all have something to say.

To us, the best things in life are the ones that last. We believe in fewer made products that mean something, that carry a legacy. We want to make one thing and make it well. We want to instill pride in what it means to be Made in America, and do that through honesty and integrity. We want each hat to be another handcrafted piece of the circle we all live.

What is a typical run for your hats? How limited are they?

It’s an interesting question because we always say we’d rather make 100 caps instead of 1000, ha! But truly, runs vary cap to cap depending on the project and the availability of the material…could be as limited as one cap in some cases. We’re really not trying get into the mass production business, keep things unique and discoverable as possible.

I’ve noticed some recent collaborations you’ve been doing such as Lone Flag, Neighborhood, Rogue Territory, Civil Ware. Can you talk a little bit about those?

We really like to make sure any collaborations we do are authentic and there is a direct connection between us, the brand and the people behind those brands. With each brand its been people that we’ve either had long standing relationships with or new friends that we’ve gotten to know thru the circle. No matter if they are long time or new to the circle we love what they are doing with their brands, crafts and lives in general so we choose to highlight them and their stories. Its been a fun creative process that keeps us pushing the limits of what can be done. As with anything, you try to make sure we’re not forcing something and stay true to who we are. Ultimately, the Seasoned customer is a person that sees these projects and it will immediately make sense to them.

Check out some of Seasoned USA’s collabs here:
Lone Flag
Bolts
Aloha Sunday
Snake Oil Provisions