Max Nelson is the creator and owner of Hood Hat, a rapidly growing line of premium, handcrafted baseball caps made from luxurious materials like merino wool, gabardine, cashmere, and Japanese twill. The idea for Hood originated around five years ago when Nelson noticed a void in the headwear market for customizable, high-quality ball caps. While blank caps could be sourced from overseas and customized, Nelson saw an opportunity to provide customers with a more elevated canvas to express their individuality.
Nelson self-funded Hood for the first two years before raising a friends and family round, but the company has not taken institutional venture capital funding, priding itself on its ability to grow independently. The brand’s philosophy is rooted in Nelson’s own upbringing, playing stickball games in the schoolyard and making mixtapes on the front stoop of his Staten Island neighborhood. Hood believes a neighborhood’s culture is instrumental to one’s identity, and the brand aims to capture the essence of those formative experiences through its products.
Hood’s offerings include a wide range of hat styles – snapback, snapback curved, fitted, and dad hats – crafted from premium materials in over 30 colors and various font options. Customers can browse pre-designed hats representing regions, cities, colleges, professional sports teams, ski destinations, music legends, and TV icons, or create their own custom designs through Hood’s online customizer.
The brand’s commitment to quality extends beyond just the materials used; Nelson emphasizes that Hood hats are meticulously designed and flawlessly executed, with each piece cut and sewn with precision to the company’s custom mid-profile architecture. The interiors are lined with 100% cotton khaki trims, ensuring a clean, polished look inside and out.
Hood prides itself on being an American-made product, with all hats constructed in New York City using the world’s finest materials. This adherence to traditional craftsmanship is a nod to a bygone era when handcrafted and American-made goods reigned supreme.
Beyond its fashion offerings, Hood also places a strong emphasis on community and social responsibility. The brand donates 5% of all sales to The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), an organization working to end mass incarceration in California.
Hood has garnered a dedicated following among celebrities, with fans including Ben Affleck, Jay Z, Ryan Reynolds, Rick Ross, Zach Braff, Jake Paul, Floyd Mayweather, Nas, Swizz Beatz, and Sophia Culpo, among others.
At its core, Hood is more than just a headwear brand; it’s a celebration of neighborhood pride, personal expression, and the intersection of sport, music, fashion, and art. With its focus on quality, customization, and community, Hood has carved out a distinct niche in the fashion world, offering customers a way to wear their heritage and tell their story, one hat at a time.
