My travel wardrobe changes a lot depending on the kind of trip it is, but I always carry a couple hats along, including some kind of baseball hat or cap. The people at Nobis let me try out something from their spring line though and I’m waltzing around a city in Mexico with Oliver Closeoff.
Yes, all their hats have names, and great ones too. If you are ever looking for a funny fake name to give the hostess at the restaurant or when leaving a message for a friend, just pop over to the Nobis site for ideas.
Oliver is pictured above. The other two here are Colette Iday and Iriel Hassle. A few gems from the men’s line are Mack Aroni and Watson Yurface. I love a company that doesn’t take its “designer wear” too seriously.
Fortunately, the gimmick is backed up by quality workmanship. Many of these hats look like nothing 
you’ve seen in the stores (in a good way) and they’re built to last. Here is a description of the Hugh Demann one just to give you an idea of what goes into these:
Paper Straw. Textured Cotton/Linen. Print detailing on front panel and peak. Front piping details. Nobis button snap on front right crown. Velcro back closure. Nobis quick-dry wicking sweatband. Peak made from recycled PE materials.
Some are one-size-fits-all with elastic, while others have some type of adjustable band. The model I’ve been wearing has a built-in stash pocket, so another place to keep some money hidden while you travel.
I can’t promise that if you spend the $35 to $60 these retail for that you’re going to look like these lovely models (it didn’t work for me), but I do feel a good bit less frumpy wearing Oliver Closeoff around town instead of some tired baseball hat with a logo.
Check the Nobis dealer locater page to find where to pick up one near you.
#1 by Linda - June 17th, 2009 at 17:45
I love the names–they made me laugh out loud. I think my favorite hat is Candice B. Love…?
#2 by colette - June 23rd, 2009 at 17:57
i really like some of the designs, but their website is killing me! most of it is designed so fancily that text is mostly off page with no scrollbar. kind of makes me worry about their attention to detail.
thanks for the info on prices– another thing i found mysteriously missing from their site!
cute designs, and if you’re right that they are well made, i hope they can find a way to bring customers in to their website rather than drive them away! (i say this as a girl who LOVES a cute hat, obviously, as i took the time to figure out a way to work around their darn site)
#3 by Tim - June 25th, 2009 at 10:02
I hear you colette. I find that the more a company thinks of themselves as hip and fashionable, the worse their website is to navigate. They tend to be the “form over function” types. I think that Nobis site assumes a certain screen resolution (whatever the designer was using probably) and if you don’t have yours on that setting, you get those scrolling issues. It’s okay on mine, but I agree it’s an annoying site regardless. Thankfully the hats are more user-friendly!
#4 by Danny - December 9th, 2010 at 03:24
My sister got me one of them from Japan years ago and it still remains one of my favourite hats of all time. They also sell kids’ hats. Definitely worth every penny!
#5 by Scott - April 22nd, 2011 at 17:15
“Many of these hats look like nothing you’ve seen in the stores”
Yes, exactly! How frustrating to see so many people walking around with hats off the rack of major department stores. Where’s the individuality?
#6 by Dennis - April 26th, 2011 at 00:37
I love that second hat — so unique and stylish. Thanks for the post — I’d never heard of Nobis, but I checked out the site – awesome!
#7 by Gina - April 28th, 2011 at 01:14
I must say, all I see downtown are cheap fedoras and baseball caps on dudes. Where’s the style at? I should walk around with one of the Nobis hats, and a sandwich board that will encourage men (or their partners) to find them some style!
#8 by Suzanna Orlovski - April 30th, 2011 at 17:10
Even those colors are awesome. A lot of my wardrobe is earth tones, so I’m always on the lookout for interesting shades of green/beige/brown.
#9 by Mary Truman - May 1st, 2011 at 16:39
i’m going to send the link to nobis to my brother. he has worn the same ratty hat since high school. it’s time for an upgrade, to this decade!
#10 by Sandra - May 6th, 2011 at 11:18
My brother’s girlfriend picked up a hat like the one featured in the second photo. I always wanted one like that, but she had bought it in London. Now it can be mine!
#11 by Morris B. - May 13th, 2011 at 07:19
There are even recycled materials in these hats. Could they be any cooler?
#12 by Wendy - May 18th, 2011 at 10:26
I think that Nobis site assumes a certain screen resolution (whatever the designer was using probably) and if you don’t have yours on that setting, you get those scrolling issues.
#13 by Kay - May 30th, 2011 at 18:10
Yes, the tired baseball hat. I don’t want to knock style, but I think it’s time for some alternatives. Yes, boys, I’m talking to you.
#14 by jorge - July 3rd, 2011 at 20:15
Cool hats, unfortunately cannot be bought in my country. Will try to find one the first time I travel to Europe.
#15 by Chase - July 4th, 2011 at 15:03
A velcro back closure is a superb idea. I like my hats to fit snug, but sometimes I have different haircuts (and thus different amounts of hair), and a bit of adjustment goes a lot way.
#16 by Ursula - July 24th, 2011 at 13:45
The built-in stash pocket is really clever and useful. I often don’t have pockets, and sometimes prefer to avoid bringing a purse. And lord knows I’m not into the fanny pack.
#17 by Kerry Enser - August 21st, 2011 at 15:36
I *love* the style of the hat in the second photo. Without the brim that sticks out, it’s a really funky style, but it still offers brow coverage.
#18 by Ward - October 2nd, 2011 at 19:08
“I can’t promise that if you spend the $35 to $60 these retail for that you’re going to look like these lovely models” – worked for me!
#19 by Rosie - October 4th, 2011 at 09:28
Great hats!! So good for a bad hair day, and a bad face day!
#20 by Randy D. - October 12th, 2011 at 13:05
Cools hats… I’m always in always in the market for a new lid. Nice post.