Hats are having a moment in fashion. Although big-brimmed hats have come and gone as accessory darlings for decades, this go-around seems different.
Gone are the days of brimmed hats representing the super wealthy or being reserved for utilitarian purposes. Hats are everywhere, for everybody – and the more unique, the better.
Fashion insiders point to the post-pandemic need for self-expression and the ever-evolving need for individual style as reasons we are seeing an uptick in big hats. This explanation resonates with Brims on the Bluff owner Lauren Dembeck. Her idea for a custom hat shop (the first of its kind in Bluffton) was a direct result of career changes brought upon by the pandemic.
With a background in hospitality, Demback worked with Ritz Carlton, Westin, and Palmetto Bluff’s Montage resort. Finding great success in corporate event planning, she had to evolve in 2020 as the world of event planning drastically changed.
Virtual pop-up events became popular and she decided to go off on her own, creating M2M Events. As luck would have it, a client’s request for a hat pop-up shop in Louisville, Kentucky, sparked Demback’s imagination. The event was wildly successful.
Demback saw a gap in the local market back home. Her idea for a hat shop in the Lowcountry grew organically and Brims on the Bluff was born in July 2024.
Located in the heart of Bluffton Village, Brims on the Bluff has become a destination for tourists and locals alike. Local nature is the focal point for the shop’s aesthetic. A hand-painted mural greets customers as they walk through the door. Natural elements can be seen throughout the store, adorned with marsh greens and blues. Coastal Carolina birds serve as names for each hat style. Toward the back of the shop, one’s gaze is immediately fixed on the vast hat wall that spans the width of the store and is the starting point of the guest experience at Brims on the Bluff.
That experience is what makes Brims on the Bluff unique. Every hat is made to order and customizable for each client.
The process begins with a base. Clients choose either a 100% Australian wool or straw hat (the price ranges between $75 and $200). Then, the Brims on the Bluff Team will fit the hat specifically to the individual, using a combination of steam and custom hat molds to give it shape.
The last step is the icing on the cake. Hat enhancements, such as hand-strung beads, handmade bands, feathers, and even the ability to have your hat hand-painted, make each hat different. Dembeck takes great pride in making everything in-house.
“When we aren’t working with a client or hosting a pop-up event, we are hand beading hat enhancements,” Dembeck said. She and her team scour the country for unique gems and beads. The shop houses an exclusive collection of gems from Telluride, Colorado, and they continually source rare gems whenever possible.
Additionally, if guests aren’t in the mood to be creative or need something in a jiffy, Dembeck and her team have your back. They always have gorgeous pre-made hats ready to go.
Not to be compared to a typical hat store that you might stumble upon in Nashville or Kentucky, Brims on the Bluff is unapologetically Lowcountry. From seagrass straw hats made by local Gullah artisans, to supporting local charities and hosting pop-ups in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island, Dembeck’s passion for the Lowcountry is palpable and can be seen throughout the store.
Future trends indicate no signs of the hat frenzy slowing down, so grab your fashion-forward pals and head to Brims on the Bluff.
Visit Brims on the Bluff at 10 Johnston Way in Bluffton Village from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; or Tuesdays by appointment. Find them online at brimsonthebluff.com or @brimsonthebluff on Instagram.
