Interview With 4th Generation Hatter Ben Goorin From Goorin Bros
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TweetUrbandictionary.com is an open invite to ‘define your world’. I’m RSVPing with a plus one. My guest’s name is Ben Goorin, a 4th generation hatter from Goorin Bros (Goorin).
Goorin (pronounced Gore-rin); a family company established in 1895, made their first sale of their hats off a horse cart. Ben describes Goorin as bold hat makers, using timeless craftsmanship.
“The dedication to the family business to keep the legacy passed down from generation to generation. It hasn’t really been until the last five years where there has been an explosion in hat interest, and styles have been so popular.”
Expansion outside of San Francisco became a reality, and Goorin stores have popped up in Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, Chicago and Vancouver. Ben explains, “The staff is trained on product knowledge, history of hat styles, and our brand. They can take the time…to explain the different hats, details, help people find the right hat that looks good on them. That’s the key.”
Wait. Who is Ben Goorin? A man with a vision to bring uniqueness, quality, and authenticity to the Goorin hat business.
At work, you can say that he wears two hats because of his work in operations and creative. This means that he doesn’t have a 9-5 job. Instead, a consuming 24-7 job is more like it as Ben says, “I sleep with this stuff, it’s fun.”
It is in his blood. Also, it didn’t hurt that he has taken the next step further with classes. Ben explains, “I studied a little bit of business. I studied a lot of communications, journalism and broadcasting. To me, it’s always about a message, telling a story.”
The Inspiration Board
A board at the at the Goorin headquarters where Ben and his fellow co-workers place cool inspiration. It is always changing .
“I watch the evolution (of other companies) I look at other companies that go back in time because a lot techniques that were used back over a hundred years ago that we want continue using today. I’ve got a lot of old cigar brands up right now, and a lot the packaging…the stories behind the cigar companies, these are often family businesses.”
1333 Minna (pronounced Men-nah), Artist Series
A hat collection created by group of local artists at working out of San Francisco’s culture-rich area, Mission Street. They create hats inspired by ‘street-level art’ like street murals and tattoos. The influence of art has translated into areas outside of design such as experimentation with custom lining, screen-printing techniques, and embroidery.
The hats from 1333 Minna have street cred’ and uniqueness by “push(ing) the envelope outside of the traditional hat. For me, it’s about creating that unique and different that hasn’t been done before.”
As Ben says, “it’s about making it your own.” Get a hat and define yourself.
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