The freedom of the Great American West
western lifestyle, travel, Leisure, arts, culture, fashion, Music & entertainment.
These are The Stories of PEOPLE PURSUING and LIVING THEIR DREAMS IN THE SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN WEST, theIR lifestyleS, attitudes and WHAT truly MAKES THEM UNIQUE.
featured story AND INTERVIEW:
RAWLIN WESTERN HATS
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A PEEK INSIDE:
ULTRA LUX SALON, WESTERN STYLE
RAWLIN HATS WITH DIRK RAWLIN DYE
DIRK RAWLIN DYE CREATeS SOME OF OF THE WORLD’S MOST UNIQUE WESTERN HATS. HIS CRAFT IS ALL ABOUT MAKING EACH HAT AS UNIQUE AS EACH PERSON THAT ASPIRES TO WEAR ONE WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO CUSTOMIZED DETAILS.
HIS WEBSITE SHOWCASES HIS FULL COLLECTION, EACH IS A ONE OFF. DIRK HOLDS THE TRUE PURPOSE OF WHAT WESTERN HATS ARE TRULY FOR AS HE CREATES EACH ONE. YES THEY ARE VERY FASHIONABLE AND ALSO VERY FUNCTIONAL IN COMFORT AND TO PROTECT FROM THE ELEMENTS OF THE WEST. HE WANTS TO CAPTURE THE PERSONALITY OF EACH PERSON THAT WEARS ONE.
THE COMBINATION OF COLORS, TRIMS AND BRIMS CAN VARY GREATLY, YET SOMEHOW HE IS ABLE TO ACHIEVE AN AMAZING CONSISTENCY THAT SAYS RAWLIN HATS. THE DETAIL WITHIN EACH HAT LINING IS SPECTACULAR AND A DIRECT INFLUENCE FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER’S ECLECTIC PAINTINGS, AN ADDED SURPRISE!
I HAVE SEEN MANY WESTERN HATS, BUT NONE WITH THE SHEER ARTISTRY AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL THAT DIRK PUTS FORTH. HE IS ARTISTIC AND PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS HATS. WHEN YOU PHYSICALLY HOLD ONE AND TRY ONE ON, YOU CAN ONLY WANT TO HAVE ONE CUSTOM MADE.
DIRK IS A PROFESSIONAL GRAPHIC DESIGNER AS WELL. EVERY hat has unque STITCHing AND SPECIAL ATTENTION TO EACH DETAIL INCLUDING CROWN SHAPE, BRIMS AND TRIMS, BANDS AND VARIATIONS OF adorning feature SUCH AS FEATHERS, PINS, LEATHER, SILVER, beads etc as finishing touches. You can also REQUEST THE ADDITION SOME OF YOUR OWN personal items TO make it uniquely yours.
WWW.RAWLINHATS.COM (805) 234-0288
FULL INTERVIEW
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RAWLIN HATS WESTERN STYLE
I MET DIRK AT AN ARTISANS OPEN HOUSE AT ULTRA LUX IN REDONDO BEACH. DIRK HAD THE COOLEST SETUP TO SHOWCASE HIS WESTERN HATS. I LOOKED AT THEM AND NOTICED RIGHT AWAY THE CRAFTMANSHIP AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL. THE DIFFERENT STYLES OF HATS, COLORS AND THE VARIATIONS OF EACH DESIGN WERE UNIQUE AND WELL THOUGHT OUT. DIRK’S PERSONAL AESTHETICS AND PERSONALITY ARE TRULY WESTERN. HE LIVES THE DREAM AND IT SHOWS IN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF HIS CREATIONS.
WHEN I WENT TO VISIT DIRK AT HIS STUDIO, I NOTICED THE FULL ARRAY OF CUSTOM ELEMENTS THAT SURROUND HIS HAT MAKING. HE LIVES IN THE MOMENT AND SAYS THAT IN THE PROCESS, THE MAGIC HAPPENS AND DICTATES WHAT DIRECTION TO GO WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING EACH HAT.
DIRK IS ALL ABOUT THE WESTERN LIFESTYLE. IT LIVES IN EACH HAT HE MAKES. THOSE THAT SEEK OUT HIS HATS, TRULY APPRECIATE EVERY ELEMENT OF DESIGN HE PUTS FORTH. HIS STUDIO IS HIS SANCTUARY AND A PLACE TO THRIVE. IF HE IS ELSEWHERE IT’S USUALLY TRAVELING OUT WEST OR SURFING!
WESTERN COMMUNITY PATCHES
LOCAL BOUTIQUE BUSINESSES THAT MAKE THE WEST GREAT!
DIRECT LINKS ABOVE TO THEIR WEBSITES. VISIT IN PERSON OR ONLINE.
WESTERN HATS HISTORY
John B, Stetson IS KNOWN FOR MAKING the modern-day American cowboy hat. IT WAS KNOWN AS THE "Boss of the Plains", he CREATED in 1865. THE HAT was flat-brimmed AND had a straight sided crown with rounded corners. TheY WERE light-weight, waterproof AND natural in color, with four-inch crowns and brims.
Stetson was inspired by THE LARGE felt sombreros worn by MexicanS while he worked in the GOLD mines of Pike's Peak, Colorado in the American West. HIS HATS PROVIDED THE MUCH NEEDED PROTECTION FROM THE HARSH COLD WINTERS, RAIN AND THE HOT SUMMER SUN. his hat workshop was the great outdoors in front of a campfire.
THE GREAT HOLLYWOOD WESTERNS EMBRACED THE CLASSIC COWBOY HAT STYLE. THERE WAS A STETSON HAT MADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR JAMES DEAN FOR THE MOVIE GIANT. BASED ON THE POPULARITY OF THat FILM, STETSON OFFERED THE HAT AS A NEW STYLE AND IS A RARE FIND TODAY.
MANY OF TODAYS WESTERN FELT HATS ARE MADE FROM WOOL, RATHER THAN BEAVER, RABBIT OR BUFFALO. WESTERN HATS ARE MORE OF A FASHION FOR MOST, AND STILL A NECESSITY FOR THOSE THAT MAKE THEIR LIVELYHOODS ON RANCHES AND FARMS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
COUNTRY MUSIC AND A TWO-STEP OPTIONAL! HOUSTON, TX IS CONSIDERED THE NMBER ONE CITY FOR COWBOY HATS. OUTSIDE OF NASHVILLE, TN, NEW YORK CITY HAS THE NEXT HIGHEST NUMBER OF COUNTRY MUSIC FANS IN THE WORLD.
1507 S Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, CA 90277 (310) 372-3332 @ULTRALUXSALON
ULTRA LUX SALON, WESTERN STYLE
TRICIA DELGADO
TRICIA STARTED ULTRA LUX SALON 20+ YEARS AGO AND CONTINUES TO INNOVATE HER STYLE AND DESIGN INSIDE AND OUT. ULTRA LUX HAS GONE THROUGH A VERY TRANSFORMATIVE PERIOD AFTER BEING A MUCH LARGER SALON. TRICIA WANTED TO GET BACK TO THE BASICS AND MORE RECENTLY, GET BACK TO WHAT TRULY INSPIRES HER, THE AMERICAN WEST.
TRICIA IS A HAIR ARTIST AND SURROUNDS HERSELF WITH ART THAT REPRESENTS WHO SHE IS. FROM THE FRONT DOOR OF THE SALON TO THE WALLS INSIDE, IT’S VISUALLY ECLECTIC, WELCOMING, COMFORTABLE AND WESTERN. IT’S A PLACE I LOOK FORWARD TO GOING TO.
I MET TRICIA at a salon in MahATTAN BEACH WHEN I MOVED TO THE SOUTH BAY IN LOS ANGELES. SHE THEN OPENED ULTRA LUX SALON IN REDONDO BEACH. MY HAIR DOES WHAT IT WANTS. TRICIA HELPED TAME my various lengths from long to short hair with styles that are always evolving. WHEN I’M IN THE CHAIR, OUR CONVERSATIONS center AROUND OUR LOVE FOR MUSIC, ART AND FOOD.
TRICIA TRAVELS A LOT FOR MUSIC, FUN AND ART, PICKING UP IDEAS AND INSPIRATION EVERYWHERE SHE GOES. SHE usually comes back with a handful of SELECT items to adorn the wallS of ultra lux. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, TRICIA HAS WORKED AS A STYLIST FOR FASHION WEEK IN NYC TO CONTRIBUTE HER UNIQUE ABILITIES, AND KEEP FRESH ON EMERGING TRENDS.
SHE HAS GONE THROUGH MANY PHASES AS A PERSON. SHE HAS A LOVE FOR 1950S FOR STYLE BUT LIVES IN THE MOMENT FORMING HER TRULY OWN UNIQUE STYLE THAT EXUDES CREATIVITY AND CONFIDENCE. THE PAST IS SOMETHING TO BUILD UPON AND SOMETIMES IT COMES BACK AROUND. IN THE CASE OF THE WEST, NEW RUSTIC WESTERN FASHION IS REEMERGING AS CHIC WITH SILVER, TURQUOISE, AND WESTERN HATS.
TRICIA SURROUNDS HERSELF WITH ARTISANS, SHARING THEIR PASSION WITH OTHERS. SHE CALLED ME TO SAY “I’M HAVING AN OPEN HOUSE WITH SOME GREAT ARTISTS, HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT.” OF COURSE WE MADE IT! THIS IS WHERE I MET DIRK RAWLIN DYE OF RAWLIN HATS AND OTHER TALENTED ARTISANS SHARING THEIR WEARS.
the conversationS
once in a while i’m early. I sit back and relax, listen to the music and watch her do HER MAGIC. I notice the interactions and personal conversations. it’s all a part of why people go to tricia, a kind of a letting go experience and opening up.
getting your hair cut is a very personal experience. For some reason, you have found a person you trust and are happy with for many different reasons, but it is through a connection is why you go. Sure your hair will look great but the in chair conversations are just as important. this is where tricia has more insight than most and why she is so liked.
she calls it hanG time with THERAPEUTIC SESSIONS FOR HERSELF AND THE PERSON SHE IS WITH. SHE THEN SAYS IT BECOMES INSPIRATION FOR BOTH OF THEM “SO MUCH IS BORN FROM THESE ONE ON ONES.” IT HAS HELPED HER GROW AND TRULY SEE WHAT IS MEANINGFUL FOR HER.
TRICIA COMES FROM AN indigenous BACKGROUND OF FAITH HEALERS. IT HAS ENHANCED HER HAIR ART IN MANY WAYS IN COLOR, TEXTURE AND STYLES. EARTH TONES ARE PART OF THAT PALETTE. TRICIA IS ALSO INTO POTTERY AND IT ALLOWS HER TO EXPLORE DIMENSIONAL ART AND COLOR. IT ALL COMES NATURALLY TO HER. SHE USED TO KEEP THESE ASPECTS OF HER HERITAGE SUBDUED BUT NOW SHE SCREAMS IT WITH A GREAT WESTERN FLAIR. SHE NOW EMBRACES WHO SHE TRULY IS.
WHERE IS ALL OF THIS LEADING? TRICIA SEES A DUALITY IN HER ART. HAIR, PERSONAL STYLE AND FASHION WILL ALWAYS BE THE VANITY SIDE OF HER WORK. THE OTHER SIDE SHE IS TAPPING INTO IS MORE SOULFUL IN WHAT SHE CALLS CEREMONIAL HAIRCUTTING. IT’S A CONNECTION, JOURNEY, AND EXPERIENCE THAT IS HEALING. THE HAIR THAT DROPS TO THE GROUND, HOLDS THE PAST, BOTH LOVE AND JOY, BUT ALSO PAIN AND SORROW. BOTH THE HAIR-CUTTING AND CONVERSATIONS SHED THE PAST AWAY ALONG WITH THE EMOTIONS ATTACHED TO THEM. THERE IS A LOT OF EXCHANGE THAT HAPPENS. BETTER TO LET THE PAST GO.
MEN TEND TO BE IN THE CHAIR FOR SHORTER PERIODS OF TIME BUT TRICIA LEAVES TIME FOR THOSE LONGER EXPERIENCES AS SHE GETS TO KNOW YOU. MOST WOMEN ARE THERE FOR MUCH LONGER AND A BIT MORE USED TO HAVING THAT TIME WITH TRICIA. YES ULTRA LUX CAN BE BUSY AND A FUN ATMOSPHERE, MAYBE THAT’S WHY PEOPLE OPEN UP. THEY FEEL WELCOMED AND RELAXED ENOUGH TO UNWIND AND LET IT ALL OUT. IT’S ALSO ONE OF THE TIMES WHERE YOU HAVE TO SIT IN FRONT OF A MIRROR AND LOOK AT YOURSELF FOR A MUCH LONGER PERIOD OF TIME, TIME TO REFLECT.
WITH THAT SAID. PEOPLE WITH LONGER HAIR, ESPECIALLY WOMEN, HAVE HELD ON TO THINGS MUCH LONGER. TRICIA HAS THE INSIGHT TO ASK “WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE OFF THAT NO LONGER SERVES YOU.” SHE CUTS THAT OUT OF THEIR LIVES. SOME CLIENTS VIEW THEIR TIME WITH TRICIA TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE TIME WITH THEIR THERAPIST, NOT THAT THIS IS THE GOAL. IT’S JUST THE NATURAL PROGRESSION OF BEING. YOU FIND THOSE THAT SERVE THE BEST PURPOSE IN YOUR LIFE, YOU EMBRACE THAT TIME WITH THEM AND WALK AWAY ALL THE BETTER FOR IT. TRICIA EMBRACES THAT CALLING.
ARTISAN EVENTS
TRICIA SUPPORTS THE LOCAL ART COMMUNITY WITH AN OCCASIONAL OPEN HOUSE FOR LOCAL ARTISTS TO SHOWCASE THEIR CRAFT. THE WESTERN JEWELRY IS EXCEPTIONAL, EARRINGS AND NECKLESSES, CRYSTALS, ESSENTIAL OILS, CANDLES, WESTERN HATS, BLANKETS, AS WELL AS WILD HONEY. THERE MIGHT BE A TATTOO ARTIST DOING HENNA INK. It’s always interesting!
THE WESTERN FLAIR IS EVIDENT IN CRAFT AND FASHION. IT’S FUN AND A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING TO WEAR OR ADD TO YOUR LIVING SPACE.
SEVERAL OF THE ARTISTS TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE WEST AND southwest A FEW MONTHS A YEAR, GOING TO MUSIC FESTIVALS, ARTS AND CRAFTs SHOWS, FASHION EVENTS AND FARMERS MARKETS. MANY HAVE THEIR CRAFTS IN BOUTIQUE SHOPS and THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH BAY AND LOS ANGELES.
