St. Johns, USVI | 1 of 1| Turquoise Matte Nylon

The year was 1988. Or was it ’89? The calendar loses its meaning when you’re stranded in Cruz Bay with nothing but a broken-down vintage jeep and a taste for local bitters. The sun wasn’t just hot; it was an interrogator. I needed shelter. Not a roof—a vibe. I found it in a dusty dive behind a thicket of sea grapes. A local skipper tossed this very artifact onto the mahogany bar. “Imperial Headwear,” he muttered, nodding at the Denver pedigree stitched inside. It was a flawless specimen of turquoise matte nylon, cool to the touch, defiant against the salt spray. I traded him a rare Moroccan pocketknife for it. I never saw the jeep again. I didn’t care. I had the hat.

Made in America.

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