Albertus Swanepoel is originally from Pretoria,South Africa, where he was a Coty Award-winning clothing designer. He arrived in New York City in 1989 where he set a up a glove making business and then moved onto hats.
"Hats," states Albertus "are like sunglasses. They detract and attract attention at the same time."
The best way to wear a hat,Albertus suggests "is with wit". A woman with a round face,for example,should wear a square hat, one with a long face,a wide brim"
It seems up until now his talent and name is well known and a well guarded secret amongst the cream of new York designers including Marc Jacobs,Proenza Schoeler, Carolina Herrara to name a few.
In 2004 Albertus was asked to make hats for Marc by Marc Jacobs show. Others designers flooded and he now has a large and wide clientel list of designers all using his designs to accessorise their lines.
Albertus has a collection which he stared in 2006 which sells in Barneys of New York, Louis in Boston, American Rag in Japan and En Suite in Russia. He has a mens collection that sells at Paul Smith and Odin in NYC.
This well guarded secret is just about to be revealed very soon as Albertus Swanepoel has been named as one of the ten finalists for the coveted 2008 CFDA/AVogue Fund Award.
Albertus is recently featured along side the other top ten in a article that has just come out in this months Vogue.
Hats Albertus designed fro the Carolina Herrara's Fall Winter 2008 collection.
Albertus lives in NYC and is inspired by the different cultures and buildings. His native South Africa remains a huge source of inspiration for him as well.
Albertus in his studio in NYC...
I have known Albertus for the last ten years. He has been a customer of our business for the last thirty as he bought from my grandfather and then my father...and now me.
I consider him a dear friend. Besides being absolutely blessed with talent that is beyond words so too is he the sweetest, the most hard working and definitely the most humble human being I know. (Lets not forget extremely charming and handsome)
When we opened our store a year ago he made us a small collection of hats using our vintage embellishments to embellish them. What a treat it has been to share his creations with those he

So for all those that would like to reach Albertus his number in NY at his studio is 212 629 1090 otherwise if you are in the area and would like to come and see his master pieces we have a few in store right here in Bethesda.