
About Us
OUR STORY
HISTORY
Mario Garcia grew up in Leon Mexico. Following in the footsteps of his parents, he began working with leather at a young age. His father showed him the ropes and taught him how to sew high-quality goods.
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He later moved to America where he learned the craft of hat-making. Mario and his wife Sandra went on to start their own business, California Hats, in 2005. He began taking his hand-made hats to local flea markets and craft fairs around Santa Cruz, California. In January 2018, the family and business began their journey into a new 3,500-square-foot workshop in Fowler California, just outside of Fresno. In August 2021, his daughter Mariana joined the business as manager of California Hats.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Today, Mario and Mariana can be found vending at festivals and craft fairs up and down the California Coast. Ranging from Half Moon Bay, Monterrey, and Napa, some notable events include the Fremont Art and Wine Festival, Big Hat Days in Clovis, and the National Garlic Festival in Fresno.
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The two will continue to attend art and craft fairs and also hope to attend larger events, festivals, and biker rallies in the near future!
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In the near future, the pair hope to open a proper retail storefront at their Fowler workshop where customers can come in and try on hats as well as take a peek in the workshop where every hat is made.


HEAR FROM OUR HAPPY CUSTOMERS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
OUR HAT SIZES - USA HAT SIZES - MEASUREMENT IN INCHES - MEASUREMENT IN CEMENTERS
​How do I find my hat size?
Use a flexible tape measure (or piece of string) to wrap around your head. The string tape measure should wrap all the way around you head, across the forehead and just above the ears. You want the tape measure to be firm but not too tight. If your measurement falls between sizes, choose the next largest size.
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How can I clean my hat?
We use four types of durable material for our hats:
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Canvas fabric
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Nylon mesh
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Suede leather
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Finishing leather
Canvas and Nylon Mesh:
Our most popular hats made with these materials are Freedom and River.
For quick spot cleaning simply use a hand towel or bristle brush and wipeout. For deeper cleaning we recommend using a soft bristle brush with soap and water. Let the hat air dry completely. We never recommend for a customer to wash their hat in a washer or dishwasher.
Suede Leather:
Suede can easily be cleaned with a light grit sandpaper. Be careful not to get close to any thread which can come unraveled or trim as this may damage the hat. Remove any dust created from the sand paper with a soft bristle brush.
Finishing Leather:
We recommend using any leather conditioner and follow label directions. Leather conditioner can be applied with a hand towel and simply wiped off.
Can I pack my hat in a travel bag?
Yes, the most common packable hats are Durango, Freedom, River, and Arroyo to name a few. To prepare hats for travel: simply grab the brim of each side and compress it together lengthwise. Even though hat is very durable it is always recommended to place hat on top of any heavy items which may cause hat creasing.
Can I exchange my hat if it does not fit properly?
Yes, California Hats has a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We can gladly exchange any hat; however, customer will be responsible for shipping costs.
Is the hat water resistant?
Yes, our hats are water resistant. They are made from materials that have been pretreated with water resistant properties. After years of use, scotch-guard may be applied to keep the hat water resistant.
How should I store my hat?
A hat hanger is recommended to keep the shape of the brim. If you do not have one, use a cylinder shaped item, like a coffee can, smaller than the crown of hat to keep the brim elevated. Keeping the hat on a flat surface for a long period of time may alter the brim’s shape. For those who order online, a custom cone is provided to fit each hat that may be used as a hat holder.
Does my hat protect me from UV rays?
Yes, since our hats are made of cowhide leather, canvas, and nylon mesh laminated with polyester naturally have UPF that protects against the sun.
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How do I find my hat size?
Use a flexible tape measure (or piece of string) to wrap around your head. The string tape measure should wrap all the way around you head, across the forehead and just above the ears. You want the tape measure to be firm but not too tight. If your measurement falls between sizes, choose the next largest size.
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SM
MD
ML
L
XL
2L
3X
6 7/8
7 1/8
7 1/4
7 3/8
7 5/8
7 7/8
8
55
57
58
60
61
63
64
21 1/8 - 21 5/8
21 3/4 - 22 1/4
22 3/8 - 22 7/8
23 - 23 1/2
23 5/8 - 24 1/8
24 1/4 - 24 / 3/4
24 7/8 - 25 3/8