Meet Colby Hébert, The Cajun Hatter! Hébert has relocated his New Orleans based hat shop to Downtown Lafayette next to The Wurst Biergarten. Like many Downtown Makers, Hébert finds inspiration in his Cajun roots and shares that with us via his craft!
Check out his available hats or schedule an appointment to make your own custom hat via his website.
I make handmade custom hats inspired by Cajun and Louisiana culture. Including everything from the music to cuisine, to geography and more. I’ve always enjoyed altering my clothing and making things with my hands, and after working in the wardrobe department in the film industry, I was led into the desire to become a designer with my favorite aspect of fashion, which is hats.
I think a maker is anyone who creates something with their hands. It’s very personal and honest in that way.
My custom hats are inspired directly by the individuals that I make them for. My design collections, such as the “Louisiana Icons” are inspired by cultural concepts of South Louisiana.
I love the culture of downtown Lafayette. It has a bit of that same laissez-faire that is exemplified in our work. To add to that, it is perhaps the best expression of an historical Lafayette, and that marries perfectly with the old world feel of what we do.
For me, it is essential that I always create. And making allows me to create a thing that others can get very practical use out of in a very intimate way.
My children. But I suppose if we’re talking hats, it would be the very first one. Which I still own and wear.
I don’t pay much mind to trends, but I’m extremely excited to release our “Shades of the Swamp” collection, where we dye nutria fur felt hats from plants harvested in the Atchafalaya swamp.
To start right away. There are no perfect circumstances.
I am also a Traiteur (or Cajun folk healer) and most are unaware that the hats themselves bestow blessings upon the wearer.