How My Hat Became My Resume
Ki Pharaoh: Mr.Hat x Spencer Hart
I don’t have a college degree or a polished LinkedIn profile. I’ve never worked for a global brand or walked the halls of a top ad agency. But with just a hat as my resume, I managed to disrupt an entire industry.
It started with a fascination for millinery—a craft that often goes unnoticed. Over time, that fascination turned into a mission: to revive its legacy and elevate the artisans behind it. With innovations like the Mr. Hat Formula and co-founding The Hatterist, the first digital agency dedicated to headwear, I gave this timeless craft a fresh voice. What happened next was a reimagining of how the world sees hats—and the people who make them.
For me, it all began with my grandfather’s hat: a black rabbit fur-felt fedora from the 1940s. He gave it to me before he passed, and that hat wasn’t just an accessory; it was a piece of him. It sparked something in me—a love for hat-making and the stories hats carry. That connection led me to start Hatabouttown, a hat-focused, street-style blog where I wrote about stylish headwear and the personal stories behind them.
I didn’t set out to turn the blog into anything more than a passion project. But as I covered events like London Fashion Week and discovered hidden millinery gems, it became a global platform for hat enthusiasts. One post led to another, and soon I was helping brands like Lock & Co., Borsalino, and Stetson connect with younger, style-conscious audiences. What started as a blog turned into a market research tool. I realized that millinery didn’t just need preserving—it needed innovation.
The more I immersed myself in the craft, the clearer the gaps became. The artistry was impeccable, but the storytelling wasn’t landing with new audiences. Milliners weren’t just making hats; they were telling stories. But those stories weren’t being heard. That realization led to the creation of the Mr. Hat Formula, a five-pillar framework designed to elevate artisans and brands:
1. My Story / Niche: Align your personal experiences with your goals to define your unique value.
2. Relationships / Community: Build a network of like-minded people and collaborators.
3. Hone Craft / Expertise: Master your skills to connect with authenticity.
4. Authority / Differentiation: Stand out by offering unique insights or solutions.
5. Transformation / Innovation: Push boundaries to reshape the industry.
This framework didn’t just help milliners—it caught the attention of brands like Converse and Stance, and it shaped HatsOnly, an event series celebrating headwear as both art and culture.
One of the most memorable moments from HatsOnly was a secret hat-themed after-party with Erykah Badu, honoring the 25th anniversary of her iconic Baduizm UK tour. It was a love letter to her passion for hats, featuring a pop-up live hat-making bar, hat-inspired cocktails, and a 12-foot branded hat wall. Erykah even performed an intimate set. Guests included Chance the Rapper, Dua Lipa, and Lucien Laviscount, and the event was crowned the UK’s Most Unique Party of 2017 by British Vogue.
When the pandemic hit, it changed everything. But with change came new opportunities. Alongside Mark and Nichola Harris, I co-founded The Hatterist, the first digital agency dedicated to headwear. Our mission was to connect traditional millinery with modern marketing. We wanted to prove that hats could be a platform for storytelling, creativity, and innovation—and we did.
The journey wasn’t without its challenges. Navigating the industry as a young Black designer and restorer wasn’t easy, but early supporters like Hypebeast and Highsnobiety helped me gain momentum. Their platforms opened doors to collaborations that highlighted the value of overlooked artistry and sparked important conversations about underrepresented creatives.
One of the most humbling moments came when legendary British milliner Stephen Jones OBE told me, “You’ve given our craft a voice that resonates beyond our circles. What you’re doing isn’t just unique; it’s transformative.”
That moment reminded me why I started. My mission has always been to make the invisible visible—not just in millinery, but in all the untold stories I come across. Whether through HatsOnly events or mentoring niche creatives, my goal is the same: uncover the extraordinary in places people often overlook.
It all started with a hat. For you, it could start with a story, a passion, or an idea. The potential to disrupt industries, amplify voices, and transform culture is everywhere—you just have to look closely enough to see it.
Every hat tells a story. What's yours?
