About Bench & Block

My work in the hat business began when I was looking for the right fedora for an Indiana Jones costume. Living in China, I could not find one that captured the shape and character I wanted, so I worked through the process of developing one. That project eventually became Hero Hat Co. Along the way, I developed a real appreciation for the materials and small details that can make a hat feel right or noticeably wrong.

As I learned more about how hats are made and became friends with people in the community, I began to see the gap between what beginning hatters and smaller businesses could access and what was available to large factories. Someone learning may need dependable materials in quantities that leave room to practice and experiment. A smaller business may need consistent quality and reliable availability without ordering at factory scale. Many products become much easier to buy at factory volumes, leaving individual makers and smaller companies with fewer practical choices.

That gap is why I started Bench & Block. I want to make dependable hat-making materials, supplies, and equipment available in quantities that make sense for individual makers and growing businesses, while keeping quality high and prices reasonable. Whether you are working on your first hat or building a product line, you should have access to options that support serious work.