Behind the Scenes with Dueling Banjos Hat Co.

Dueling Banjo Hat Co. owner and country musician Josh Bogard creates something truly magical with felt, thread, leather, real turkey feathers that have been sustainably harvested, and more. The first time I saw his custom-made hats, I fell in love and knew I had to learn more, as well as order one for myself! From hat crowns with skulls molded into them to cutouts of states, these incredible hats are more than something you simply wear on your head, they are wearable pieces of art.

How did you get into making hats and how long have you been doing it?

As a kid I’ve always been into westerns and loved the Old West; out there you always see hats of various styles. As an adult, I became a musician and still held onto my love for hats, the two seemed to go hand-in-hand. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to perform in Florida for a hat maker who shared his craft with me. He guided me through the steps of what I needed to get started and I’ve now been making hats for a little over a year.

Can you walk me through the creation process?

Creating a handmade custom felt hat begins with the client choosing the blank felt, color, and felt quality. My hats are primarily made out of beaver or rabbit felt. Then comes the sizing. Not everyone knows their hat size, so I suggest going to a local western store and getting sized by a professional. Once all of those details are confirmed, I size block the felt and the hat begins to come to life. That’s when the creative process starts. I consult with my clients until we have a unique design that fits their needs and personality. From the hat style, shape, and crown to stitching, inner lining, colors from the sweatband, the hat band, adding feathers, stamping the felt, and even adding authentic burn marks, everything is 100% custom. We can create any style of hat that the artist or customer desires: traditional cowboy, flat brim, fedora, add in a pencil curl or other stylings, and more. We also do custom styles, if you can dream it up, we can create it. 

Who have you made custom hats for?

In a little over a year since I started, I’ve had the opportunity to work with customers from around the world, even gaining notoriety in the music industry. I’ve created hats for country singer Drake White, the band Everette, Muzik Mafia member Shannon Lawson, country rap artist Dusty Leigh, and am currently in the process of custom creation for Little Texas drummer, Del Gray. Working in this trade has allowed me to get to know some incredible people on a personal level. Creating something that is 100% custom to each person gives you insight into personalities that others may not get to see very often.

How can someone place a custom order with Dueling Banjo Hat Co.?

You can contact us through our website at www.duelingbanjohatco.com or via social media platforms on Instagram and FB @DuelingBanjoHat.Co. We strive to create a one-of-a-kind hat for you.