Bill Hader wearing the Boss of the Plains hat in the June 2013 issue of GQ

DIY Blogger Studs and Pearls featured our women’s La Salle boot in her “A Dash of Inspiration” post

Shop the La Salle boot here:  http://www.stetson.com/footwear/womens/la-salle

This Sunday, May 5^th marks the 183^rd birthday of our company’s founder, John B. Stetson.  For nearly 150 years, the name Stetson has been synonymous with quality, tradition, and authenticity.  In addition to creating one of the largest hat firms in the world, Stetson was also a philanthropist, giving back in big ways to the community as well as his employees.  Considering all of his accomplishments, one can’t help but wonder:  who was the man behind the Boss of the Plains?

John Batterson Stetson was the seventh of twelve children, born in 1830 in Orange, NJ.  His father, Stephen, had a modest hat-making business called The No Name Hat Company and taught all of his sons his craft, seeing no reason to send them to school.  As John grew into a self-educated, self-made man, his health began to decline.  The doctors’ diagnosis of “lung trouble” was soon realized to be tuberculosis.  Given only months to live, JBS quit his job working for his father to head out West, his eyes set on Missouri.

After joining a group setting out for Pike’s Peak, Colorado, JBS couldn’t help but notice his health improving.  Along their journey, Stetson began using the knowledge he had from hat-making of felting the skins of the animals they utilized for food to make weather resistant tents for his crew.  One day, he decided to create a hat out of the leftover felt to pass the time.  With function in mind, Stetson crafted a hat with a high crown for holding water and a wide brim to protect him from the elements.  Shortly after, a passerby purchased the hat right of his head for a five dollar gold piece (around $125 today).

About a year after selling the hat that would later be known as the Boss of the Plains, Stetson felt that his health was fully restored and began to head back East.  With about $100 [$60 of which he borrowed from his sister] and a few skilled craftsmen, Stetson founded the John B. Stetson Hat Company in a room rented on Seventh and Callowhill Street in Philadelphia, PA.  In a short amount of time, Stetson outgrew this rented space and would eventually expand into a twenty-five building empire spanning nine acres.

Stetson’s motto of “make things right and the best they can be” applied to all aspects of his business.  To ensure that every hat was crafted to the highest quality, JBS offered above average wages, bonuses and plenty of incentives to his employees.  This included medical benefits and treatment, a hospital, a baseball league, a school, and more.  Later, he helped establish the YMCA in Philadelphia, grammar and high schools, and Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. 

John B. Stetson died of a brain aneurysm while at his Florida estate in 1906, but his legacy lives on through his family, Stetson University, and the products made today that bear his name.

***To celebrate John B. Stetson’s birthday, we are offering 20% off www.stetson.com with the promo code HAPPYBIRTHDAY***

The Kentucky Derby race is tomorrow, and whether you’re sitting millionaire’s row or watching from home, there are two things you absolutely must have:  a hat and a mint julep.  Luckily, we can help you with both.

Before we begin, a simple syrup must be created.  Don’t worry, it’s as easy as it sounds.  All you need is 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar (if you need more than that just use a 1:1 ratio); bring water to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves.  Allow to cool.

 For one Mint Julep:

• 2 oz John B. Stetson Bourbon
• 1 tbsp simple syrup
• Mint springs
• Crushed Ice

Tools:

• Julep cup
• Muddler
• Stirrer

Using the muddler, crush a few mint leaves on the bottom of the Julep cup.

Fill the cup with crushed ice.

Add 1 tbsp of simple syrup.

Next, add your Stetson bourbon…

…and then add a little extra bourbon for good luck.

Stir the ingredients.

Lastly, add a mint sprig.  Cheers!

Now, repeat the aforementioned steps for your friends before the race starts.

Still need a hat?  Try out the Whitehall or the reward, available at www.stetson.com

Time Out New York featured one of our long sleeve plaid button up shirts with contrasting paisley cuffs.  Click here for the full article: http://www.timeout.com/newyork/shopping/trend-watch-contrast-lined-mens-clothing

Our 8th Avenue hat is featured in the Spring 2013 Downtown Magazine “Inside Matthew’s Casual Closet”

Shop the 8th Avenue hat here: http://bit.ly/11wTrntbit.ly/11wTrnt

Did you know that Earth Day, the anniversary of the modern environmental movement, has been extended into an Earth Week?  This means six more days to be conscious of how we live and nix habits that may do more harm than good to our environment.  Don’t know where to start?  Don’t worry!  We created a list of six ways to celebrate Earth Week:

1. Try a vegetarian diet for a week.  Some research suggests that the “livestock sector” emits more greenhouse gas emissions than all of the cars, trains, boats, and planes combined!  Take this as a chance to up your fruits/vegetable intake as well.
2. Take a trip to the local farmer’s market.  Since you will be eating vegetarian for the week, you will need fresh produce!  Purchasing locally grown fruits and vegetables not only reduce the amount of pollution due to travel, it will also help out the nearby economy.
3. Line dry laundry.  This will save on energy as well as utility bills!
4. Switch bills to paperless.  This will save a LOT of paper, make for a more organized desk space, and sometimes companies offer discounts for it!
5. Make homemade meals for the week.  Frozen dinners may be convenient, but they are not as healthy and have a lot of packaging, which means more garbage.  Homemade meals are cheaper too!
6. Make sure your car tires are inflated enough.  This means optimal gas mileage and less pollution.

There you have it, try one or all of these this week and help erase your carbon footprint!  

Happy Earth Day!

The Stetson Calvary hat featured in Interview Magazine, March 2013

Shop the Calvary hat here: http://bit.ly/13wiRqEbit.ly/13wiRqE

When visiting Austin for the first time during SXSW, you might feel a little bit like Alice falling down the rabbit hole, except each door will lead you to a new genre of music, Dave Grohl is the mad hatter, and the Cheshire cat is actually a grumpy cat.

This year, we also stumbled upon other curiosities, such as a gumball machine that functions off of Tweets instead of quarters; segway gangs, and LL Cool J performing music inside of a Doritos vending machine.

Once we maneuvered through the food trucks and marching bands wearing stilts, we finally reached our destination:  The Black Heart Bar located on Rainey Street.  The overall atmosphere was a mixture of southern and gothic, with a beautiful bar as the focal point.

We had partnered with And Publishing and Hidden Track Music for a showcase that featured up and coming artists from all over the world, including Australia, Scotland, the UK, and Canada.

Everyone was extremely talented and their music was well received by the crowd.  If we had to pick a favorite, we would have to go with Mikhael Paskalev, Duologue, or Half Moon Run.

When the bands weren’t performing, the artists were encouraged to visit our spread of hats and pick one that best fit their personality.

Once everyone played their set and discovered whether they were destined for a straw fedora or a linen cap, it was time to let loose and get lost in the sea of Stetsons.

We all agree that if you are into music, enjoy warm weather, and embrace the weird, here are a few tips for your first trip:

1. Invest in earplugs.  Seriously.  Our ears are STILL ringing.
2. Buy a badge only if you are willing to wait at least an hour in line to see larger bands.  Otherwise, skip it and check out the up and coming artists.
3. Plan on walking or biking, cabs are hard to come by and parking is impossible.
4. Try the BBQ, but don’t miss out on the Tex-Mex and margaritas.
5. Book all travel and hotels as far in advance as you can.

Stay tuned for more SXSW outtakes!

*All photos by Daniel Davis

Our Gallatin hat is featured in this month’s Popular MechanicsMagazine, catch a glimpse of the article here

Our women’s 541 fit Stovepipe jeans are featured in the April 2013 issue of Equus Magazine.

Shop the jeans here 

Ahh, St. Patrick’s Day, the holiday where everyone is Irish, withstands the freezing cold temperatures for the parade, and wears enough green clothing to never wear it again until next year.  This year, instead of reaching for a portion of the 4.2 billion pints of green beer that will be consumed this holiday, opt for one of these Irish inspired Stetson bourbon drink recipes.

Bourbon Butterscotch Latte

(Original recipe found here)

Makes one 9 oz. latte

8 oz. Strong coffee
1 oz. Stetson bourbon
1 oz. butterscotch sauce

Foam
2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream, cold

To make the drink:

1. Brew coffee according to your machine. Add butterscotch to coffee and mix to combine. Pour Stetson bourbon in the coffee and mix to combine. Transfer coffee to something with a spout for easy pouring. Set aside.

To make the foam:

2. Place heavy whipping cream in bottom of glass and use this or the blender attachment on a hand mixer and beat cream until soft peaks form, about 1-1 ½ minutes.

Assemble:

3. Tilt cup with foam at angle and pour coffee along the wall of the cup to leave the foam as undisturbed as possible. Finish with butterscotch drizzling on top.

Irish Buck

(Image Credit)

Makes one 5 oz. drink

2 oz Stetson Bourbon

3 oz ginger ale

1 tbsp. fresh lime juice

1 lime wedge

Ice

To make the drink:

Fill glass with ice.  Add all liquid ingredients to glass, stir.  Garnish with lime wedge.

To find Stetson Bourbon at a retailer near you visit http://bit.ly/YdC376

USA Weekend featured our bourbon as the ideal gift for “the connoisseur” 

Trent Richardson, LaMar Woodley, and Marshawn Lynch recreate Run DMC’s iconic album cover for ESPN Magazine

MARTINE MANUMALO BY HARPER SMITH IN “SHILOH” FOR FASHION GONE ROGUE

Hat:  Open Road

Dapper Lou snapped this bicyclist wearing our Mercer hat

One of our classic hats spotted in Vice Magazine

We just returned from the 107^th National Western Stock Show held in Denver, Colorado (hyperlink for initial Tumblr post) where we were welcomed with frigid, thirteen-below-zero weather and questions such as: “Stetson makes bourbon? “[Yes.] “Where?” [Heaven Hill in Louisville, KY] Single or double barrel? [Neither, double distilled] Does it taste like a boot? [Definitely not.]

The Stetson Saloon

Although this wasn’t our first rodeo, it was our first time sponsoring this event.  From the rodeos, to the stockyards, to the glass of bourbon at the end of the night, good spirits were abundant.  Thankfully, we had plenty of our bourbon to keep everyone warm until the 60 degree weather in week two!

Mutton’ Bustin’

Our time was jam-packed with rodeos that kept us on the edge of our seat, mutton bustin’ that kept us laughing and animals in the stockyards we wish we could have taken home.

For our after parties, we turned the lights down and the music up as the rodeo audience made their way into the pavilion for a glass of bourbon and dancing that we could have sworn was choreographed before we got there.  Denver’s got some moves!

John B. Stetson Bourbon After Party

We are so grateful to the athletes, staff, and most of all, the attendees of this event, for making our first time at National Western Stock Show one that we will definitely remember.

Vogue featured a few of our hats and belt in their February issue!!