There were no blueprints for Wear Brims founders, Archie Clay III and Tajh Crutch, to follow.

They didn’t go to design school or have an established mentor holding the door open for them. What they did have was a shared passion for high-quality fedoras, a unique vision for how things could be done differently, and the patience to make it happen.

 And their vision is getting noticed. Featured in Beyonce’s Black-Owned Everything campaign, British GQ, Wild ‘n Out and on celebrities like Cedrick the Entertainer, Wear Brims is recognized for bringing a fresh style to the luxury hat industry. 

“There was a point last year we just went viral,” said Archie. “I don’t know how it happened, but that was a moment for me that we realized this was the right place and right time.”

It all started with a phone call.

The duo became fraternity brothers in 2011 and bonded over a shared love of fedoras, but struggled to find the brand that matched their style.

“I was in IT working a 9-to-5 when Archie calls me up,” said Tajh. “He was like, we both wear fedoras, but we’re not really finding what we want—why not just create it?” 

Mixing fresh design inspiration with generational family influences, they launched Wear Brims. This deep-rooted connection to family is found throughout the brand, from the name to their signature red robin feather.  

“Without family and friends we wouldn't be who we are today,” said Archie. With a strong support system and an unchanging belief in themselves, they stayed driven to push past the struggles of starting a new business. 

“The hardest part was balancing working full time, not knowing if it was going to thrive or not,” said Archie. “We had to believe in ourselves that we have the ability to grow. And I think what we’ve done well over the last three years. We’ve taken things to the next level every single year.”

As Wear Brims continues to expand, Archie and Tajh have made it their mission to stay organic and be a resource for fellow creators who are starting their journey.

“While we’re learning and growing, we want to teach at the same time. Because we want to give people coming up those tips and tricks we’ve learned, so they don’t have to go through it,” said Tajh. 

“When you can expose a kid to something new they might not ordinarily see, it could change their whole path,” Archie adds. 

Follow the @Wearbrims Instagram channel to check out their latest initiatives, like their collaboration with @SupportBlackColleges.

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