Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Weber.
Hi Nancy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I hand-shape custom cowboy hats with precision and traditional technique out of a repurposed 1968 Airstream in Cypress.
Before this, I spent nearly two decades as an educator. When I stepped away, I knew I wanted to build something of my own. I approached that decision with the same level of intention I’d brought to my work up to that point, and once I decided what I wanted to do, there was no time to sit around daydreaming about it.
I chose to pursue hat making and committed to learning the craft the right way. I went to Denver to train, then came back and started building—learning through repetition, refining my process, and holding a high standard for what I was producing from the very beginning. I started by working on my own hats and those of my family, then took on my first full custom client—a longtime friend who trusted me to build something from the ground up. That experience shaped how I approach every hat and every client I’ve worked with since.
Rovewell Hattery took shape through the work itself. I developed the brand and the process simultaneously, shaping both in real time as I worked with clients, hustled through multi-day markets, and built relationships within my local community. There wasn’t a roadmap—I had to figure out what worked by doing it, making adjustments, and doing it better the next time.
Rovewell is growing, one hat at a time.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, and I didn’t expect it to be.
On the craft side, there’s no shortcut. Learning how to properly shape and fit a hat takes time, repetition, and a willingness to mess up and do it again better. You’re working with materials that don’t always cooperate, and the margin for error is small if you care about doing it well. You can’t fake your way through this type of craftsmanship, and I wasn’t interested in trying.
On the business side, I started from zero. No built-in client base, no existing systems, no roadmap. Everything—from branding to pricing to the client experience—had to be built, tested, and adjusted in real time, and it still is. Every order, every client, every hat pushes it forward. I don’t think it will ever stop evolving.
I hold a high standard for both my craft and the experience I provide, and that creates a constant tension with pace. Whether I’m working a market and turning out hats quickly or spending hours with a client on a full custom build, my standard doesn’t change—because every client deserves the best I can give. The challenge is finding ways to move faster without compromising the care and precision that define a Rovewell hat.
Ultimately, patience has been the hardest part. This kind of business grows client by client, and trust is earned the same way. It takes longer than I want to reach each goal—but when momentum starts to build, and that next milestone is within reach, I can see it and feel it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Rovewell Hattery?
Rovewell Hattery is a custom hat business based in Cypress, Texas. I specialize in hand-shaping bespoke felt, wool, and straw hats, as well as reshaping, refitting, and redressing well-loved and second chapter hats.
It all starts with the hat itself—how it fits, how it’s shaped, and how it sits, looks, and most importantly, feels on the person wearing it. This foundation comes first—every time. Until the hat is right, no amount of trim or hardware will make it truly custom. From there, I dress the hat with full-grain leather, traditional ribbon, vintage silk, and natural feathers, along with pins, charms, chains, and conchos.
The process is collaborative. I work with each client to choose the right hat and color, refine the shape until it’s exactly right, and finish with the details. Together, we tell their story.
A lot of people are familiar with hat bars, where you select a hat and add decorative elements. That’s not what I do. I shape and form each hat by hand, working with clients to create something that is fitted, proportioned, and finished specifically for them.
Private, one-on-one appointments are the core of my business. Clients come into the workshop for a full fitting, shaping, and customization process built around them from start to finish. I also work events and markets, but the standard and the process stay the same.
What I’m most proud of, brand-wise, is that Rovewell is clear in what it is and what it isn’t. It’s not mass-produced, and it’s not rushed. It’s intentional work, done well, for people who value that.
What makes you happy?
I love creating something new—taking an unshaped hat and giving it form and style, refining my techniques to make the material do what I want it to, and finding better, more efficient ways to get there. Every hat presents a new challenge. No two builds are the same, no two clients are the same, and that keeps my work interesting.
I’m proud of every hat that comes off my block, and I’m always a little sad to see them go. But I’m also humbled, seeing my clients genuinely excited to take their new custom pieces home, whether they wear them out the door or gently carry them in their dust bag for safe-keeping.
I’ve worked with people buying their very first hat, others hoping to give new life to something they haven’t worn in years, and even folks trusting me with a hat that once belonged to someone they love. Some clients come in with a clear vision, others want to see what’s possible as I guide them through the process, and some begin with one idea and pivot along the way. Regardless of the path, they walk away with something that fits them the way it should in every way—something they can say, “it was made for me.”
When the vision becomes tangible—on the hat block and then in the mirror—that’s when it all comes to life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rovewellhattery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CV3kZYmk8/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Image Credits
All photos taken and edited by Elle Belle Photography
