Headquartered in St. Charles, Henschel Hat Company is one of the few remaining hat manufacturers in the United States. Thanks to major retail relationships with companies like Disney, Bass Pro Shops, and L.L. Bean, these toppers enjoy wide appeal.

A worker sews a label into a Henschel-made hat at the Sedgewickville manufacturing site, which has been in operation for decades.

In 1945, Joe Henschel started selling hats across Missouri with only his original designs and a few machines. By 1947, Joe founded Henschel Hat Company, eventually expanding it to a seven-story building in downtown St. Louis and employing more than 100 people in manufacturing, sales, and operations. Today the company’s headquarters is in St. Charles, Missouri, and one of their manufacturing facilities, which has been owned by the Henschel Hat Company for decades, is in Sedgewickville in northern Bollinger County. 

“We are one of the few remaining hat manufacturers left in the United States,” says Adam Deiab, Joe’s great-grandson, the fourth generation of the Henschel family involved in running the business. Adam’s mother Pamela is Joe’s granddaughter, and Adam’s father Tarek Deiab serves as company president. 

Henschel’s products include fashion hats in leather, wool, straw, and poly blends; caps in styles ranging from newsboy to duckbill; hats in styles from fedora to derby; functional caps and hats for protection in all types of weather; and outdoor styles, including the popular Breezer series. 

The Sedgewickville manufacturing site has been in operation for decades, as you can see from this undated black-and-white photo.

Most of the leather and the outdoor styles, including the Breezer collection, are made in Sedgewickville. However, due to demand and a shortage in labor, the company has also imported versions of hats from manufacturing facilities around the world. 

The Aussie Breezer collection features a lightweight construction and a crushable mesh body for optimal airflow and packability and offers a thoughtful design, which shades the wearer’s face, neck, and head. “It has UPF 50+ sun protection, and it’s one of the most popular outdoor hats available,” Adam says. 

Adam explains how the unisex outdoor styles are made for everyone. “It doesn’t matter what gender or age, you need to protect your head from the sun,” says Adam. “You see men, women, and kids wearing the Aussie Breezer, as one example.”

The Aussie Breezer Original is one of Henschel Hat Company’s most popular hats.

He notes that Disney, Bass Pro Shops, and L.L. Bean are some of the company’s larger retail accounts. In addition, Adam says Henschel works with private labels and custom designs. 

While Henschel is a manufacturing company and wholesaler, Adam says the company recognizes that not every customer has a retailer nearby. Individuals can order Henschel headwear online at the company’s retail website, where customers will find detailed video instructions for measuring to ensure the right fit. 

When Adam’s great-grandfather started selling headwear in 1945, it was unthinkable for a suitably dressed man to go out in public without a hat. While fashion and lifestyles have evolved in the past 80 years, what hasn’t changed is Henschel’s commitment to the highest quality materials and craftsmanship. 

“When you wear a hat, you’re making a statement,” Adam says. “You’ve got style because it’s kind of a brave, bold type of look. No matter what kind of headwear you need, whether for fashion or a trip or some gardening, we’ve got you covered.” 

See Henschel Hat Company headwear at HatHabit.com. 

All photos courtesy of Henschel Hat Company

Article originally published in the July/August 2024 issue of Missouri Life.