Popz Topz was started in 2012 by Stephens and the hats are sold mainly online at popztopz.com. The Upper Valley Mall has served as a showcase for the business for the past two years. His unique style features a fedora top adorned with a bill.
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Saturday’s event will feature some upcoming products by Stephens including an all leather hat, a wool design, as well as more colors and a line geared towards women.
“The biggest difference in the hats that we are presenting (on Saturday) is that none of them have been on the market,” Stephens said.
Though his hats are uni-sex, Stephens said some of his new designs will be geared towards the female market as the company looks to expand its reach.
“In the past, most of our customers have been men. We will be doing more colors that will be more appealing to women,” he added.
The idea behind Popz Topz came in 2011 when the Springfield native took an old straw hat and cut off the raggedy brim. He then took a baseball cap, chopped off the bill and encased the bill in black leather.
The combination between the two was an instant success and garnered much praise from his neighbors. Putting his years of tailoring experience to use, Stephens said he was able to make the combination “look like it was (originally) made like that.”
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Since then, Stephens said the response to his unique style has continued to be positive. After showcasing his designs in places like New York City and New Orleans, he said the feedback he has receive shows that there is “a potential market for that style of hats.
The event in Springfield on Saturday will not only be a way for him to showoff some of his latest designs, but it is also a way for him to celebrate his birthday. The hat designer turned 70 on Wednesday.
He hopes to eventually have a retail location for his brand. He said the shop would either be in Springfield, his hometown or in Columbus, where he currently lives.
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