Prior to the 20th century, hat making was one of the largest industries in the United States. Well-to-do clients would commission custom hat orders to adorn their heads at social events and outings. The latest styles and fashions were proudly displayed by the most fashionable ladies and gents of the day. In the mid 1800s, Americans started heading to the western territories, and the need for a well-made hat became even more of a necessity, but for an entirely different purpose.
Instead of socialites and debutants, hatters began receiving requests from farmers and ranchmen for wide-brimmed, practical hats. In 1865, John B. Stetson designed the Boss of the Plains — or what became known as the cowboy hat — and the style quickly became the favorite headwear for men throughout the West.
Today, the cowboy hat along with the fedora, bucket hat and cloche hat are popular among hat lovers of all ages. Like most clothing items, the quality of a hat varies greatly based on the material used, whether it is mass produced, and the expertise of the hat maker. Hats are found at a variety of retailers and come in all shapes and sizes. However, for those wanting to own a hat of impeccable standard and design, commissioning the talents of an experienced hatter is paramount.
Enter Chandler Scott and Covi King, co-owners of Tatton Baird Hatters in Springville, Utah. Their four-person team handles the entire hat-making process from start to finish. “We do the fittings with our customers, from hat size and shape to color and lifestyle considerations. From there, we are downstairs making the product and completing it to its fruition,” King says.
The hats created at Tatton Baird are made from beaver, rabbit and nutria fur. “The raw materials we use are luxurious and expensive, and we carry forward the tradition of working with these materials to create beautiful, refined products,” she explains. “We make very technical hats here at the shop. Each hat is taken through a 25- to 30-step process going from raw, felted fur to a completed shaped hat.”
A part of what ensures each hat is designed to its exact specifications is securing the correct tools and using established methods. Tatton Baird painstakingly utilizes practices and instruments from the hat-making days of yesteryear.
“Because we have the proper equipment, we are able to make all the subtle nuanced shapes between things like fedoras and telescope crowns or buckaroo styles,” King shares. “We have one of the largest private working collections of block, flanges and historic equipment in the United States. We work on equipment from Utah’s original hat shop from the 1860s. Part of our tool collection dates back to those times, and then is a continued collection of pieces from other hat shops around the country.”
The first hat shop in Utah was owned by John Charles Tatton, who immigrated from England to Illinois in 1849 and became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When the Latter-day Saints were instructed to move west, Brigham Young helped finance Tatton’s shop.
Tatton Baird Hatters is headquartered in a location that has a wonderful story all its own. The historic building at 52 W. 200 S. St. in Springville, Utah, was built in 1891 and has been completely restored to its original glory. Walking into the shop is truly like stepping back in time with the original wood floors, beautiful ceilings and a magnificent stained-glass panel from a Latter-day Saints chapel.
The building is so welcoming that locals and regulars will just stop by to hold court. “People come and just hang out. Everyone talks and exchanges stories. We then have the unique opportunity to educate people about a historic craft,” she says.
When you listen to King discuss the local community and her love for hat making, it is easy to understand what has made their shop successful. The name Tatton Baird Hatters has become well-known around the region. In fact, the company’s unparalleled reputation has drawn the business of numerous celebrities including Robert Duvall, Mark Harmon and Linda Evangelista.
Even more rewarding for King are the hats that have been personally created for customers who have a difficult time locating a size and shape that works well. She says, “We have helped people who can’t find a hat that will fit their head. There is a powerful satisfaction in creating something with your hands that helps make someone’s life a little better and is really appreciated.”
The team at Tatton Baird Hatters works to ensure each of their customers receive exactly what they want. Whether it is someone looking for a brand-new fashion to wear on a special occasion or a repeat client hoping to get a gentle rebuild for a beloved hat, Scott and King understand that hats are an expression of one’s personal fashion and lifestyle. Hats can be ornate, arresting and utilitarian. They can provide a statement about one’s personality, mood and experiences. King emphasizes, “Hats are a piece of art you live your life in.”
