Hats Off to Inspiring Hat Shop

Wandering along a winding side-street in the north side of Boston, we stumbled upon a quaint vintage hat shop that looked like it had materialised out of the past. Stepping inside William Carlton Hats felt like stepping back into another time. Except that the owner, Steve Finch has tattoos, both he and his shop look the part of a 1930's milliner. Here's what I learned from him.

Be Clear on Your Dream - Steve had been carrying his idea of a vintage hat shop around for years. He knew it was what he wanted to create and nurtured his vision. He honed his milliner skills and worked hard to plan out the details of his vision.

Trust Your Gut - Wandering the city streets on day, Steve fell in love with the area of Boston where his shop now resides. He said he just knew this was where his shop was meant to be. He rode his bike back there the next day and posted signs on all the shop windows with his contact information asking if they would lease/sell their property. A realtor contacted him shortly afterwards and his shop was born.

Pour your heart and soul into it - Steve wears one of his hand stitched hats in his shop with pride. It's exemplifies how cool you look in one these vintage creations. He talks about the fabric he uses, where he sources it and how he makes his hats. He speaks to how the styles fit different people and how each hat has its' own unique flare. His antique sewing machines are in the middle of the shop. He loves what he does and you can feel it.

Steve is an inspiration and great example of someone living their dream. The whole feel of the shop and the energy and passion he has for his business is commendable. He supplies an upscale boutique in Boston as well as selling and custom crafting vintage hats in his shop. He had a dream and when the vision hit him, he acted on his intuition and put everything he had into it. His success is one that can inspire all of us who have a dream and a vision. Be crystal clear about what you want to create, trust your gut when the timing is right and pour your heart and soul into it. Read more about William Carlton Hats.