Woman-Owned Custom Hat Bar Gem Hats Celebrates One Year

Nestled on the second floor of a building also home to an upscale French restaurant on a bustling street in Denver’s LoHi neighborhood, lies the woman-owned and operated Gem Hats. The custom hat bar is filled with natural light and character, along with hats upon hats of various colors. 

Founder Caroline Hafele’s career was working with international startups and her business background allowed her to travel the world, which led her to Mexico City in 2020 where she was working for a fashion startup. She was making hats on the side and embracing the very prevalent hat culture in Mexico’s biggest city. During the pandemic, she continued to make hats for friends and family and her passion evolved into an entrepreneurial venture. Gem Hats was born in October 2023 and now operates with a team of seven women, several who began as clients, helping customers craft one-of-a-kind hats. 

“We’ve really tried to build a very welcoming space where you can walk in and you can find the perfect hat for you,” said Hafele. 

“Gem” is short for “gemela,” the Spanish word for twin. Hafele has a twin sister, and her younger sisters are also twins. 

“The logo is actually the mathematical symbol of congruency with an extra squiggle,” Hafele shared. “And then my younger sister turned it into a hat.” As major supporters of Hafele and her business, she and her three sisters also have tattoos of the logo. 

The Gem Hats process is all inclusive, meaning after picking a hat as the base, customers can choose any and as many materials as they would like, including feathers, gems and branding. Wool and suede Gem Hats are $225, which includes a selection of hat bands, feathers, vintage gems and custom branding. The only additional charge is custom jewelry hat bands made by local jeweler Rose Rust Jewelry. Hafele also offers trimming and shaping on both Gem Hats and other hats if the customer decides they would like a different shape or style. 

All of these materials are upcycled, contributing to the uniqueness of each Gem Hat and resulting in a sustainable focus for the brand and the process. Each hat is made of upcycled textiles and in partnering with a local leather company, Hafele and her team use recycled leather as hat bands. 

“It’s better for the planet, but you can also make it one of a kind. So every single hat, even the ones that are pre-designed in here and that people can come in and purchase off the wall, are still one of a kind,” Hafele said. “We feel like it’s more fun that way, it doesn’t halt people’s creativity.”

All Gem Hats feature an elastic sweatband that allows for versatility depending on head sizes as well as overall wearability. Once a Gem Hat is on your head, it’s not going anywhere – and the band is so comfortable you may even forget you’re wearing a hat at all. Those around you surely won’t, as Gem Hats are wearable pieces of art that make a statement. 

Hafele loves to interact with her customers and creating a hat often leads to learning more about their stories. From bridal hats that incorporate the lace of a mother’s wedding gown to hats that symbolize a Colorado vacation, Hafele gets to experience meaningful moments in her customer’s lives. 

We Tried It: The Gem hats process

The Curio Cabinet team is constantly opening themselves and their community up to new narratives and experiences. We Tried It is an ongoing series of testing and applying beauty, fashion and wellness products.

After booking an appointment through an online submission process, entering the Gem Hats studio is like being engulfed with warmth and light. The ambiance is inviting and comforting, allowing customers to feel like their true and authentic selves in order to chose the perfect hat that resembles their personal style.

Hafele and Hannah Keim greeted us and let us try on the variety of hats hanging on the wall. With choices like maroon, mustard, black, brown and grey hats in both suede and wool, the opportunities are endless. After finding the perfect size and color, we posed in our hats and headed to the material wall home to bands of all shapes, textures and sizes.

Jordan opted for a white hat with a black leather band, a lace band and red detail. Abby chose a green suede hat with accents of purple and tan for her bands.

The Gem Hats ladies tied the bands on the hat as we chatted about the business, the neighborhood and what it is like to own and run a hat bar. As we browsed vintage gems and jewelry bands, Hafele and Keim helped us decide and showcased different versions of bands and gems until we each found exactly what we were looking for.

As the hats began to take shape and neared completion, we chose feathers and decided on the perfect branding. With “TCC,” short for The Curio Cabinet, on each hat, Gem Hats gave us an artful and special accessory that will elevate any and every outfit. We left with a keepsake that will last forever.

Gem Hats is celebrating its year anniversary this month with a sale all month long and an event on October 26. As the business continues to grow, Hafele is grateful to be located in a lively, active and collaborative neighborhood. Gem Hats will participate in SuitShop LoHi’s Wedtober, a neighborhood-wide bridal expo. As the holiday season approaches, Gem Hats will be hosting various pop-ups in partnership with local artists as well.

Follow Gem Hats for news, events and to book an appointment and make a custom hat of your own.