I came to hat making the long way around.

I am naturally private, an observer more than a performer. An introvert who has learned, over time, that the most powerful things are built slowly and quietly. I have reinvented myself more times than I would have chosen. But each chapter kept me investing in the work, and in a vision I held closely for years before I knew what to call it.

Alter Ego is that vision made real.

I believe that what we wear is not decoration, it is identity. A hat, shaped by hand from natural materials, carries intention. It asks something of the person who wears it. It says: I know who I am.

Each hat I make begins with that belief.

I work from a small studio in Ventura, California, alongside the coast and the light I love. I am married to my best friend. We have three daughters I am obsessed with. Most evenings you will find me cooking dinner, and on weekends, sitting still at the beach or in my garden.

I am honored that you are here.

xx, Jess