• Female founded

    JW Bennett was founded by Sarah Kjorstad, a multi-generational Wyoming girl. Growing up on a ranch in eastern Wyoming, Sarah learned the importance of strong values, connection to the land and pure grit. Her hats, and the passion that fuels their creation, are a reflection of her classic style and cowboy heritage.

    Throughout her life, her father and grandfather were rarely without a well-made felt cowboy hat, proving that even tough as nails ranchers value great style when combined with quality construction. Sarah's hats are also influenced by the poise and strength of her grandmother, her first style icon! Through the balance of strong male and female role models, Sarah has developed a love of fashion, dedication to hard work and appreciation for functional design.

Female owned

Sarah Kjorstad leads the company's creative direction. The JW Bennett brand is an expression of Sarah’s life, family and roots. It combines the names of her grandmother and father and recalls the upside-down JW of the family’s cattle brand. The brand honors her heritage and the person she has become while her craft honors the long-standing and barely changed tradition of hatting.

Lara Azria-Reucassel heads the company’s operations and finance. She combines her heritage of fashion entrepreneurs and an international fashion model with her business and retail experience. Her global background has ingrained in her the value of a great product and a passion for the customer. Meeting Sarah on her travels she was inspired by her handcraft and attention to detail; she found a great partner to grow a brand in the heart of the Mountain West.

  • Sarah Kjorstad

  • Lara Azria-Reucassel

  • Female run

    JW Bennett hats, bands and accessories are largely hand-crafted by the passionate and creative women on our team. From loom beading, to embroidery, to jewelry design and millinery, these women embody the integrity of work, creative design and quality handcraft that defines JW Bennett. Our goal is to create a brand that is recognized globally for integrating life’s dichotomies. We are refined but also gritty. We love to have fun and we work hard doing so. We are fashion-forward and modern yet rely on our mountain lifestyle to ground us in tradition and history. We are female-run and inspired by strong female role models in Wyoming and internationally.

Explore our collection

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