Being a creative soul who is happiest when creating, I wanted to start a business that allowed me to do that. I had always done projects here and there, especially working with jewelry thanks to both of my sisters having accessories lines of their own, and decided hats was my thing. Being from Southern California I was all too aware of the potential of sun damage to skin, and the mantra was always: “50 (sunscreen) and a hat”. I was diligent about both, but the hats were always a style problem. I swore and still swear by the standard lifeguard hats I could pick up at surf shops for $20 to keep me protected while running and playing in the sun, but they were far from chic. When visiting a friend who owned what must be the world’s oldest hat factory, not far from my home in Italy, that produced hats for the likes of Hermès, Loro Piana and Ferragamo, I looked around and asked if I were to design a collection, could they produce for me too. I had accumulated lots of ideas and designs over the years, and they quickly said yes! They even offered me a design job. I declined the offer and went forward with my project of launching my own brand and them producing it after spending about a year hanging around the factory and learning all I could. I started with a straw hat collection, mainly finely woven Panamas, and then a year or so later introduced fine felts. I still make both, though foldable and rollable “travel hats” that manage to maintain their “chic” factor are my biggest sellers.