GLIDER Wool Strapback

- Wool Blend Upper
- Front Embroidery / Leather Strapback
- Unstructured Vtg. Style Crushable Upper
- Indigo Sea Canvas Underbrim / Front Lining

I've always loved Pelicans - they have an ugly grace as they effortlessly ride updrafts along unbreaking swell for miles.  As I started riding 11'+ gliders, boards designed for ultimate trim, and connecting unbreaking sections of waves, it was the closest one could come to experience gliding like a pelican.  Pelicans are also good signs for fishermen.  Diving birds mean there is bait in the water and probably fish as well.  Any seafaring enthusiast has to at least respect them.

This pelican is one of the favorite embroideries, I've ever designed and I knew it would have a classic vintage collegiate / athletic look on the navy wool.

Made in Los Angeles, CA. USA

CHEETAH Wool Strapback

- Wool Blend Upper
- Vtg. Style Printed Felt Patch
- Unstructured Vtg. Style Crushable Upper
- Cotton Herringbone Underbrim / Front Lining

Inspired by the Golden Years of American motorcycling, we continued this series of hats based on the old water-slide decals of the 30s-60s.  We picked some more of our favorites, redrew them by hand and printed them vintage style on felt.  

The unstructured upper, vintage military style micro herringbone and leather strapback complete the look.

Made in Los Angeles, CA. USA

ON THE ROAD WOOL Strapback

- Wool Blend Upper
- Rope Letter Embroidery
- Unstructured Vtg. Style Crushable Upper
- Deadstock Cotton Corduroy Underbrim / Front Lining

"Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road..." Jack Kerouac

So much inspiration for Ampal comes from being out "on the road."  Get out there, take the scenic route, stop and enjoy the journey...

Made in Los Angeles, CA. USA

CA LOVE Strapback

- Salt and Pepper Herringbone Upper
- Vtg. Style Felt Letter Appliqués
- Unstructured Vtg. Style Crushable Upper
- Waxed Canvas Underbrim 

An ode to California and its cultures, inspiring Ampal since day one.

Made in Los Angeles, CA. USA

CA LOVE Strapback

- Salt and Pepper Herringbone Upper
- Vtg. Style Felt Letter Appliqués
- Unstructured Vtg. Style Crushable Upper
- Waxed Canvas Underbrim 

An ode to California and its cultures, inspiring Ampal since day one.

Made in Los Angeles, CA. USA

SUN FACE Strapback

- Unstructured Wool Blend Upper
- Vtg. Blanket Stripe Underbrim & Front Lining
- Zuni Inlaid Silver work Inspired Embroidery

I spent a few weeks in the Southwest earlier in the year.   I made a point to visit museums, galleries, national parks, park visitor centers and trading posts.  The amazing artifacts, crafts, art and natural splendor were a big influence on this collection.

The Zuni Sun Face is one of the most iconic symbols of the SW to me.  The colors and style of embroidery were meant to interpret turquoise, coral, mother of pearl and onyx inlays.

Made in Los Angeles, CA. USA

WILD HORSES Strapback

- 100% Cotton Indigo "Sea" Canvas Upper
- Vtg. Style Printed Patch / Leather Closure
- Unstructured Vtg. Style Crushable Upper
- Western Striped Underbrim / Front Lining

Take me away...

The Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Gram Parsons, Leon Russell melting pot continues...

Made in Los Angeles, CA. USA

EAZY RIDER Strapback

- Wool Blend Upper
- Vtg. Style Embroidered Felt Patch
- Unstructured Vtg. Style Crushable Upper
- Cotton Herringbone Underbrim / Front Lining

An ode to the dream - riding down a dusty palm lined road into the sunset...

The EAZY RIDER started as a sketch 10+ years ago. I've always been a fan of the classic "winged" wheel but wanted to add a little California / tropical flavor with the palm fronds.  I knew it would look perfect on a vintage style embroidered felt patch.

Ranger Rick at Jalama thought they were a different type of leaf - "nice sativa son!" - and we weren't going to argue with his interpretation. 

Made in Los Angeles, CA. USA

DON'T THINK TWICE Wool Strapback

- Wool Blend Upper
- Vtg. Style Printed Felt Patch
- Unstructured Vtg. Style Crushable Upper
- 100% Cotton Micro-herringbone Under Brim & Inside Lining

We redid one of your favorite hats in wool, enjoy.

It's a classic looking patch at first glance, but like most Ampal designs, there's a bit more to it.  I drew that wiley character in the early 50's style, and the rocket's not Acme.  Its signature markings mirror the atomic bomb, Major "King" Kong rides out of the plane in the end of Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.  Also, its not misspelled, that's the correct title to the famous Bob Dylan song.  

The overall design was inspired by a good friend Wills, "Wiley," who's no longer with us.  He was truly an adventurous spirit - I went on my first surftrip with as a grom etc.  My favorite Wiley story is from one of his first extended trips to Bali.  He had worked odd jobs in San Diego saving up enough for a long period of shallow reef waves but the lengthy stay was possible only by really bootstrapping it.  While he was staying on the Bukit (Bali), he heard Desert Point (Lombok) was going to be firing, but he couldn't afford the ferry to Lombok and then the second boat around the island to DP.  So he took his rental moped on the inter-island ferry, slept on the overnight crossing, then fueled by indonesian Red Bulls, he rode his moped 17 hrs. straight on mostly unpaved third world roads with a surfboard on the side rack and gear in a backpack (probably in sandals).  But he scored and got really barrelled.  

Sometimes the "worst" ideas are the best ideas and as someone who often overthinks things, I have to remind myself not too.  Hope you've enjoyed a quick jaunt down the Ampal rabbit hole.

Made in Los Angeles, CA. USA

DEAD FLOWERS Strapback

- 100% Cotton Bedford Cloth Upper
- Front Embroidery / Leather Closure
- Unstructured Vtg. Style Crushable Upper
- Navy Bedford Cloth Underbrim / Front Lining

"And you can send me dead flowers every morning,
Send me dead flowers by the mail,
Send me dead flowers to my wedding,
And I won't forget to put roses on your grave..." 

- Keith Richards / Mick Jagger

Along with "Far Away Eyes," this gem of a Rolling Stones western-y song from the album Sticky Fingers has been an essential soundtrack for time on the road.  Mick had been hanging out with Gram Parsons a lot at the time and its clear some of that country sound rubbed off.  The Rolling Stones / Gram Parsons connection will also be the source of influence for another hat, to be discussed... The Stones' bluesy take on honky tonk is one of my all time favorites.  

Made in Los Angeles, CA. USA

TWIN Strapback

• 100% Cotton Canvas Upper
  
• Japanese Cotton Blanket Stripe Under Brim & Inside Lining
• Unstructured Vtg. Style Crushable Upper
• Adj. Leather Strapback
• Vtg. Style Twin Fin "Fish" Applique

Continuing down the line of surfboard design, we get to 1967 & the twin keel Lis Fish.  Originally a kneeboard design for San Diego slabs its become more known as a groveler, but extreme speed lies in its stout outline.  MR gave the twin a moment in the sun, but the thruster quickly usurped it.  Over the last 50 years its been refined by the cult of the keel and continues to be a craft of choice for those drawing creative lines.

Made in Los Angeles, CA. USA

SINGLE Strapback

• 100% Cotton Canvas Upper
  
• Japanese Cotton Blanket Stripe Under Brim & Inside Lining
• Unstructured Vtg. Style Crushable Upper
• Adj. Leather Strapback
• Vtg. Style Single Fin "Glider" Applique

At first there was none... finless hand carved wooden alaia's and olo's, hewn from logs but well suited for the rolling waves of Waikiki.  Post WWII, saw the introduction of polyurethane foam/fiberglass and widespread adoption of fins (Simmons had used both single and twin fins since the 30s).

I wanted to honor, what I consider the pinnacle of the single fin design and maybe the most beautiful surfboard template ever created - the teardrop single fin.  Roots in the early guns for big Makaha and early north shore charging, refined over the next decade to a sleek board for serious surf - Gerry dropping in at pipe or Uluwatu on a sleek Bolt, a Brewer single fin going mach 4 off the bottom at Sunset...

Made in Los Angeles, CA. USA

ANTI-SOCIAL SURF CLUB II Snapback - Navy

The Anti-Social Surf Club was inspired by the early days of surf exploration, from the mid 60's to early 70's.  Tropical frontiers were pioneered, fueled by changing board design, better air travel, a more open mindset and increasingly crowded surf back home.  50 years later, these themes continue to resonate with us and inspire our adventures and aesthetic.

Made in Los Angeles, CA. USA