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Adventurer, rebel, artist, icon—whatever mark you’re making—Jaxon Howell’s hats are 100% unique and made to stand out. Just like you.
Each hat is carefully shaped, sewn, and styled by hand in Vancouver, using sustainably sourced felts, hand-woven Ecuadorian straws, upcycled textiles, and trimmings he collects from local fabric stores and vintage shops, or markets and bazaars while travelling the world.
How did you get into hat making?
As a kid, I quickly discovered an artistic streak and eye for details. You’d rarely find me without a pencil, paintbrush, or camera in my hands. In my teen years, I got more into creative expression, fashion, and wearing all kinds of hats.
Since then, I’ve lived many lives. A photographer, for one, which I still am. I was also a custom woodworker for 15 years, running my own shop in Vancouver’s East Side. Through it all, this vision of being a hatmaker kept sitting in the back of my mind, waiting there, like an inevitable calling. I suppose it was only a matter of time.
To me, hats are an extension of personality. You want them to capture a person’s essence. It’s the same with a great portrait photograph. And no two people are the same, so no two hats should be either. The rest of it comes down to quality.
In our age of fast fashion and mass production, I think we’re losing the magic of enjoying things crafted meticulously with passion. Things with soul. Things that endure.
My goal is to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces that last a lifetime, and make you feel a spark of joy every time you slip them on.
The antique finishing nail in each hat is my signature touch. It’s a nod to my woodworking days, and the elegant, timeless feel I aim to invoke in all my work.
Hat-making aside, what brings you happiness?
Summer nights on my back porch with my fiancé and our Aussie-doodle, Tater. Next to that: travelling and eating good food. Think fresh pasta on the Amalfi Coast in Italy.
The best hats are tailored to the heart. When dreaming up your design, let your imagination run wild. A date, a number, a quote, a beloved charm, a landscape—any treasured detail can be infused or used as inspiration.
A finger or two of Japanese whiskey, neat. I love the refined flavour but also admire the pride and skill the Japanese culture puts into so many things—be it whiskey, furniture, food, or high-grade denim. The intention shines through in the finished product.
“Wake up every morning with the thought that something wonderful is about to happen.”