One of a Kind. One at a Time.
T. Young Hats aren’t mass produced. They come from a workshop with a panoramic view of a cattle ranch. They aren’t made every day. They’re made from creative inspiration and they truly are one of a kind. We believe that hats are a personal reflection of the wearer. No two people are alike and no two hats should be either.
That said, if you don’t find a hat here that speaks to you, we can probably make one that will. If you have an idea in mind, contact us. If you like certain elements of a hat you see here but it’s not the right size, color, or style, let us know what you’ve got in mind and we’ll try to customize one just for you.
A Brief History
I’ve worn quite a few hats in my life. After college, I began my professional career in advertising photography. I specialized in large-format food and product photography. When I wasn’t working in the studio, I was photographing people at various events adding to my ongoing documentary art portfolio. When I reached my professional peak in the advertising business, I was ready for a new challenge.
I completely switched gears and began learning to break and train horses. I’ve done this for many years now and although I gave up working with horses professionally, I still train and show my own. My happy place is on a horse working a cow.
In the midst of these careers, I spent ten years building a greeting card line. In my tenth year, I finally achieved national distribution, won a Greeting Card Association award, and was being distributed in the U.S., Europe and Australia. Unfortunately a little enterprise called Facebook took off like wildfire at the same time and the greeting card industry significantly diminished after 150 years. There is much to be said about timing.
I’ve always worn hats. I started collecting vintage felt hats a few years back and customizing them for myself. This led to friends wanting their own custom hat and strangers asking where they could buy my hat. The pandemic offered the perfect opportunity to build up a small inventory. Again, timing is everything! I hope you find a hat on this website that speaks to you. Thanks for visiting!
Carla C. Cain
Tomie Young Cain
Tomie was born 1899 in Bowie County, Texas. Orphaned at age nine, he dropped out of school and farmed from then on.
He and his wife Katie and their firstborn son moved to Caddo County, Oklahoma in 1921. They traveled first by train and then by wagon.
Tomie and Katie went on to have ten children, nine boys and one girl. Tomie and his boys sharecropped many farms in western Oklahoma during the Dustbowl and the Great Depression.
Tomie was my grandpa. It is with great love and tremendous respect that I named my hat company after him. I regret that I don’t have the hat he was wearing at the time of his passing. His hat was strictly functional. It was crucial for providing warmth in the winter and shade in the summer. Just like his mules, Kit Kat and Buck, his hat was a necessity on the farm. And yet, that hat was a true reflection of the man who wore it. The dust, the sweat, the wear and tear, all told the story of Tomie Young Cain’s hard life.
All of our hats have had at least one past life. Their next stories are ready to be written by you!
Carla C. Cain
T. Young Hats - Origin of a Name
