Herb Rhedrick III, a Charlotte, North Carolina native and graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, charted an unconventional path to entrepreneurship. With a degree in Chemical Engineering and a diverse background that spans IT startups and tech giants like Google, Rhedrick’s trajectory shifted in 2019 during a trip to Paris.
“I had a hat from my dad, an old Bailey’s classic navy blue hat with an upturned brim, and I lost it during my trip,” Rhedrick recalls. While traveling through Paris and Italy for a couple of weeks, he began paying close attention to the headwear he encountered. The loss of his father’s hat sparked the desire to create something personal. “I wanted to design something modern yet timeless, something that complimented my wardrobe but made me feel elevated,” he explains. Upon returning home, Rhedrick immersed himself in the craft of hat-making, a skill he describes as a “lost art.” What started as a personal endeavor quickly gained momentum when others began buying his handmade creations directly off his head. By November 2019, he had formalized his vision, sketching concepts that would eventually lead to the founding of Herbin Co .
Initially operating out of his garage, Rhedrick honed his craft while leveraging his corporate experience in supply chain management from roles such as product manager at Home Depot. “Understanding how to flow products from supplier to store at a large scale was invaluable,” he explains. “I applied those lessons to Herbin Co. to build the infrastructure for scaling up.”
Herbin Co.’s ascent from garage to retail space began after four and a half years of one-on-one appointments, then the opportunity to open a flagship store in Atlanta’s Phipps Plaza emerged. In July, Herbin Co. debuted its physical location, marking a significant milestone, “Opening at Phipps was one of those moments where opportunity and preparation met,” Rhedrick says. “The journey has been challenging but rewarding. Training new staff and scaling operations has been an amazing experience.”
At its core, Herbin Co. emphasizes more than just products—it’s about creating meaningful connections. “Our clients often mention how much they enjoy the personal interaction,” Rhedrick shares. “Each piece we make has a story. Whether it’s a father and son bonding over hat-making or celebrating milestones with custom designs, these moments of joy and connection define what we do.”…