In conversation with Norcia, the artist-turned-milliner shaping “another you” — one handcrafted hat at a time.
🎨 Q: Norcia, before OTRHATS became what it is today, you were a classically trained artist. Can you take us back to the beginning? How did your journey with art start?
Norcia: I grew up surrounded by color and curiosity. My formal training began in Spain, where I studied fine art in sun-drenched studios that smelled of oil paint and citrus. For me, painting wasn’t just about visuals—it was emotional, almost spiritual. I learned how shape, tone, and shadow could evoke identity. What I didn’t know at the time was that I was preparing for something far beyond the canvas.
🌾 Q: So how did hats come into the picture?
Norcia: By accident—and magic. About ten years ago, a close friend asked me to create a unique piece for her to wear at a fashion week event. I didn’t sketch; I sculpted. I reached for wool, straw, suede... materials that spoke to me. What came out was something between a sculpture and a story. She wore it, and people asked, “Who made that hat?” That moment lit a fuse I couldn’t ignore.
🧵 Q:What was your first collection like?
Norcia: It wasn’t a collection in the traditional sense—it was more of an exploration. There was a fedora with creases that felt like brushstrokes. A porkpie with this effortless, almost jazz-like energy. A cowboy silhouette that felt wild and untamed. Each hat was a mood, a character. People connected with that.
✨ Q: You started online, but I understand the early days weren’t easy?
Norcia: No, not at all. I knew how to create, not how to sell. Algorithms don’t recognize texture. My first website was clunky. I spent more time fighting platforms than making hats. But I couldn’t let go of the idea that there was something sacred in the process. So I focused on sourcing better materials—Australian wool, Japanese raffia straw, symbolic feathers from China. I wanted each element to mean something.
🔥 Q:Then came 1983—the official birth of OTRHATS. What changed?
Norcia: Met a creative team who didn’t want to “market” hats. They wanted to tell stories. That changed everything. We built a world where photography captured the grain of suede, the grit of straw, the elegance of wool. That was the turning point: OTRALAND became OTRHATS—a nod to “OTRA HATS,” meaning “another hats” in Spanish.
📐 Q: Let’s talk about that philosophy. What does “Another Hat for Another You” mean to you?
Norcia: It means transformation. A hat isn’t just decoration—it’s declaration. It’s how we shapeshift. Wear a sun-washed straw hat, and you’re a wanderer. Try a midnight wool fedora, and you’re cloaked in mystery. OTRHATS is about giving people a way to access different versions of themselves.
🤎 Q: Your creative process is very tactile. Can you walk us through it?
Norcia: I work with steam, fire, and intuition. I shape every crown by hand—some days I know what it’s becoming, other days the material leads. Every feather I add is chosen like a painter choosing the final brushstroke. I don’t design for trends; I design for feeling.
🌠 Q:That’s beautiful. So what do you hope people feel when they wear an OTRHAT?
Norcia: I hope they feel seen—by themselves. That moment when you look in the mirror and think, “This is me today.” That’s the power of a hat. It gives you permission to step into character, to own your story.
✨ Q:Final question—what’s next for OTRHATS?
Norcia: We’re expanding slowly, intentionally. I still believe in small batches and meaningful design. We’re introducing new silhouettes, maybe even collaborations with other artists. But at the core, OTRHATS will always be about transformation through craft.
🕊️ Final Thoughts:
At OTRHATS, every brim tells a story—and every story begins with Norcia’s hands. Whether you’re the romantic, the rebel, or the wanderer, there's a hat that’s waiting for you.
Crown Your OTRA Self.
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