ABOUT US
Practices, Policies, and Media Coverage
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Business Practices & Ethics How we’re working to prevent the extinction of the art of fine hat weaving in Montecristi.
Examples:
A Buyer Like Me A Buyer Like Me – 2
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Contact Us Phone numbers, email, shipping address, etc.
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Privacy Policy What we do with the information you entrust to us: Nothing – except fill your order.
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My Return Policy Returns are extremely rare, but I do have a policy, just in case.
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Godfather? In 2008, Victor Balcázar, a documentary video maker, saw how enthusiastically the weavers in Pile welcomed me. (Of course – I’m a buyer). Big hugs, invitations to their homes for dinner, lots of laughter and joking. Victor kept teasing me that I was like the Godfather of the village. Ha, ha, ha. Then I made a hat for Francis Ford Coppola . . . and now, well, um, I do have eight godchildren in Pile. See photos
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Media
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CBS News TV Keoghan’s Heroes Brent Black is one of “Keoghan’s Heroes” on CBS News.
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National Geographic Magazine I am at least as excited as you might imagine to have my photos published in National Geographic.
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Johns Hopkins Magazine Article about my work in the village where the finest hats are woven.
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The Robb Report Named “Best of the Best”
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NPR Reviews Finest Hat Ever Woven
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NY Times Travel article with great photos
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Finest Menswear in the World Book includes only 14 companies. I’m the only hat maker, and the only US company (but not great reading – just wanted you to know I’m in it.)
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Panama, a Legendary Hat Book Preface written by me.
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Objects of Desire I wrote this, so it’s a little funny.
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Icons of Men’s Style Such as my hats.
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What It Is To Be A Man Wear my hats. In German
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Vogue Italia — Italy Vogue photographers and models in Hawaii.
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Retail Store Image Leading national trade magazine for retailers did a cover story about my first client Kula Bay.
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Bespoke Magazine in Chinese.
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The Robb Report My Safari Edition Hats.
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Vistazo — Ecuador En español
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Nuestro Patrimonio — Ecuador En español
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Esquire — Mexico En español
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Heritage Post — Germany In German
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Teasers – Germany In German
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Magazine Ad for UPS/MBE I had a mailbox with MBE, so I nominated myself to star in a national ad. Always helpful, I wrote the proposal letter to MBE HQ (for the franchise owner to sign), wrote the ad, hired the photographer, and directed the photography. I was Executive Creative Director of Ogilvy & Mather Honolulu. The ad agency of record was in LA. Their Art Director was bummed that I handled the production. He wanted a trip to Hawaii. I totally understood.
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The Robb Report Ads I made for my hats ran in The Robb Report in 2009, when the global economy was in the dumper. I figured billionaires would still have a few bucks. So I targeted the ads to billionaires. Got one. The King of Morocco ordered 21 hats, each priced between $10,000 and $25,000. Weavers and artisans received about $150,000 in bonuses.
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Harpers Bazaar – USI made 23 hats for the photo session with the models. Imagine my disappointment when only part of the brim of one hat appeared in the magazine. At least they knew to call me for the best Panama hats.
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Morning Calm — Korea English and Korean
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Hana Hou! This article from Hawaiian Airlines’ inflight magazine is short and interesting, which might also describe me.
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Caesar Magazine — Romania in Romanian.
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Millionaire I’m not one.
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BBC Mundo (en español)
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The UK Wall Street Journal — UK My hat tops a suggested travel ensemble.
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Honolulu Star-Bulletin The Sunday paper magazine did a feature on you-know-who.
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Financial Times of London They did a good article about the economics underlying the disappearance of the weaver’s art in Ecuador. I’m quoted at the end.
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ARTE French/German documentary about my work to keep the art alive. Aired in EU, UK, Australia, India. 60 minutes (Can’t get a copy. #@%&*!)
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World Vision Network Listen to a report about Brent’s efforts to improve quality of life for the weavers.
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Montecristi Tourism Board (featuring me)
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BBC El Mundo Online News Site — Latin America Interview in English
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Morning Calm Inflight magazine Korean Airlines Interview in English
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Inspirational Aesthetics Luxury Lifestyle blog — Germany Interview in English
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