Backstory: It was 1903 when George “Stormy” Kromer — legend has it that he acquired the nickname due to his bad temper — asked his wife Ida if she would fashion a baseball cap with a pull-down earband and a soft cloth visor that would stay put while he was working on the railroad. Fast-forward to 2001 when Bob Jacquart, owner of Jacquart Fabric Products in Ironwood, Mich., bought the brand from the founding family, which was planning to shut it down. Today, Bob and his daughter Gina Thorsen have expanded beyond the original model into a line of men’s and women’s hats, bags and apparel targeted to the outdoor enthusiasts and lumber-sexuals — all Made in America.
News Hook: For fall, the brand has collaborated with Wolverine on the Peninsula Cap, a variation of its original hat in a red and black plaid wool and full-grain leather visor. The same pattern is used on a boot that has been added to Wolverine’s fall collection.
Price Points: The hat retails for $69 and the boot is $399.
