Meet Sonya Kobayashi | Artist and CEO of The Mad Haberdashers

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sonya Kobayashi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sonya, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
This business has been coming to life over the last 6 years. I go to a lot of live music, concerts and festivals. Everyone loves to dress up and wear daring and unique things! As an young artist brand new on the scene almost a decade ago, I loved to see people being unapologetically themselves. Beautiful souls wearing sequins, costumes, high platformed shoes, inventive makeup, fairy wings, crazy hats – whatever they felt like to express themself!

I made a Mad Hatter costume for one of my first music festivals, Suwannee Hulaween 2016, Everyone loved my custom top hat that I made, that I decided to make more to sell every time I went to similar events. I only made maybe one collection a year for a big event.

Over these past 6 years, the music community started to remember the impact that these hats have made on them. Each piece I make is carefully curated and designed with a unique personality. The real magic of this business is watching a person find their perfect hat. Their face lights up, they step out of their comfort zone and start to represent themselves creatively. These hats are both mirror and a beacon. A mirror to look at yourself and find your inner soul shine, beacon to others as you shine creative light! I never make the same design twice and it is my mission to make every person I encounter feel that they are so uniquely special – a true work of art!

This year I received so much support from the community that I have decided to quit my job as a full time restaurant manager and pursue my artist dreams full time. I want to share my art with the world – and make everyone feel special while doing so.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been an artist since I could pick up a crayon. When I went to college, I majored in Human Development at first, but quickly realized I was spending all my time on my art elective assignments and switched my major to Visual Arts. Art will always be my passion. I had a lot friends or family say…”well you can’t make money in art” and I almost believed them. I graduated with a BA in Visual Arts anyway.

I am an expressive artist. I LOVE to paint with bright colors, sweeping brushstrokes and messy lines. This translates into all other types of media I explore – hatmaking, music, printmaking, photography, installations, etc. If it is a creative medium, I can do it. In the past, it has been difficult figuring out where to focus my passion and creative energy. I chose painting in college, but now find myself making artist designed top hats. After all these years, the process I used to create these hats is almost equally as cathartic as painting with a brush. And the feeling I get when someone falls in love with the piece is one and the same.

This business is the best way I know how to make a living doing the things that fulfill me as an artist. I am leaving the restaurant industry (after growing tremendously in that field) in order to grow my business this spring. It is never easy to leave a safe job and take a leap of faith doing something that you know will make you happy, but is new and uncharted waters. As difficult as this path may be, I know it will be even more rewarding.

I want my brand to inspire others to fall in love with themselves, with others and with the world. I want every human that connects with my hats to feel inspired and confident, and to honor their uniqueness. I want them to believe that they too are living, breathing art. I have seen and experienced the impact that these art pieces have on their wearers – and it is beautiful.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Meow Wolf Mission Ballroom – kids and adults alike will love this immersive art experience. The warehouse is huge and filled with many different rooms of interactive art. This particular Meow Wolf is themed as an intergalactic space travel station. There is also a storyline to participate in, if you so choose. Nederland –
I love this mountain town! It has a lot of personality and funky shops and restaurants. It is only 30 minutes from Boulder and the drive up the canyon is beautiful. There is great hiking available in surrounding areas, weather permitting. In the fall, it is a great place to peep aspens without driving too far into the mountains.
Mountain Sun Pubs –
I manage at the Longmont branch of this very special restaurant group. The original Mountain Sun is still at the same location on Pearl St., almost 30 years later. This is a true microbrew and does not distribute their beer, so visiting the breweries and taphouses is a must. We are one of the most prolific breweries (as far as variety) in Colorado, and have won many awards over the years at events like the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup. The food is fresh, the beer is delicious and the staff treats you like family. Join us for Stout Month in February, where we rotate a huge selection of house brewed stouts and feature many guest breweries from around the country as well.
La Vern Park, Lyons
I love this little park in the summer months. Everything is recently remodeled. You can camp, play volleyball or soccer, tube down the river and grill with your friends. There is a very nice playground for kids as well!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Colorado Bluebird Skies Designs (720 254-2763) Sunshine works so hard to grow her businesses, whether it be window washing or her most recent venture, cross stich art. It has been inspiring to see her hard work and dedication, and has motivated me to pursue my business full time.
Shannon Green Designs (303 709-9016)
Shannon is an overall amazing human with the most infectious laugh. She works so hard on creating unique and beautiful jewelry and other fun art pieces! I have witnessed her and Sunshine vending tirelessly for the love of their crafts!
Hipsy Life (404 423-0900)
Penny Lane travels the country selling her wares. Currently, she makes beautiful hats and jellyfish earrings! She has been a friend of mine for years. You can find her at many music festivals in the summer, dancing around in her vintage flower power or tie dye outfits.
Ethically Rooted (720 487-2208)
I’ve known and worked with Jared Root for some time. His ethical and water conscious native landscaping has become a passion of his and he is jumping into starting his small business around the same time as I am! I am excited to see the places he will go and grateful to witness each others growth.

Website: themadhaberdashers.com

Instagram: @themadhaberdashers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087020505719