Welcome to Cajun Country.

From the moment you walk into The Cajun Hatter, you are immersed in a completely different environment than the one you might expect. Ready-to-wear hats line the walls, in both fur felt and straw options, beckoning you to try them on. There are fur felt color charts on the table, inviting you to open your imagination and create your own personal hat. There’s even local music resonating throughout the storefront, almost asking you to dance in front of the mirror as you try on various styles. But what truly captures your attention is that you’re being welcomed into a Cajun swamp.

There are Cypress knees in the window, a stuffed raccoon in the corner, and Spanish moss hanging from select locations. There’s even a wooden boat leaning into a corner, as well as a small red Acadian-style house, with Nutria fur nailed on a post, begging you to pet it. As you walk around to the other side, deeper into the store, you notice an elegant sitting area with mounted deer on the wall and plenty of local rum as the smell of incense hovers in the air. This isn’t just any old hat shop: this is the Cajun version.

From there, a client eager to have a custom hat made to their exact specifications will sit down with either Hébert or an associate to begin the design process. Important discussions will commence on hair and eye color, face shape and physique, proportions, skin tone, and preferred color palette. Ready-to-wear hats might be studied to determine the desired style, while color charts for nutria fur or alligator skin are carefully examined. Then there are the “je ne sais quoi” elements that bring additional character to any hat: distressing with mud or fire, accenting with stitching, creating custom beaded bands, or picking out the perfect charm, pendant, or feather. Anything is possible, as each custom hat is a reflection of the individual as well as their geography.

Once the vision is in hand and the concept solidified, Hébert puts the wheels into motion so that the intention can then manifest as a physical hat. The goal is always to create a work of art that is both functional and long lasting, while embracing the personal stye and flair of each client. A hat made of European hare can last for a decade with regular wear, while a fur felt made of beaver or nutria can outlast its owner. Such creations are the exact opposite of fast fashion, making them more meaningful to the wearer, less damaging to the earth, and able to be passed on to the next generation; but it all starts right here in the hat shop, over a teacup of rum, with a delightful conversation.

To get started on a custom hat, click here. To check our portfolio of custom work, click here. See below for custom price options.