IN BED WITH KEMO SABE’S WENDY KUNKLE
Kemo Sabe arrives at Refinery Hotel’s Hatbox September 7 through 20, bringing its renowned handcrafted hats, signature hospitality, and unmistakable sense of individuality to the heart of Midtown. Ahead of the pop-up, we caught up with Owner and Founder Wendy Kunkle to talk about the brand and the enduring appeal of Western style.
Step inside the world of Kemo Sabe, where craftsmanship, character, and personal expression come together, one custom hat at a time.
If you had to set the scene, how would you describe Kemo Sabe and the experience of stepping into your world?
Since 1990, Kemo Sabe has lived by one simple philosophy: make the customer feel important. Long before personalized service became a trend, it was the foundation of everything we do.
Walking into Kemo Sabe should feel like walking into our home. You’ll be greeted with a warm welcome, offered a drink, and introduced to one of our expert Sales Wranglers, who will guide you through the entire experience. Nothing in our stores is “grab and go.” Every piece has a story, and every customer has a vision.
Creating the perfect hat takes, on average, about 45 minutes. We carefully shape it to fit your style, your personality, and your lifestyle. Beyond hats, nearly everything we offer can be personalized, from custom boots and handcrafted buckles to branded leather goods and one of a kind accessories.
Our goal isn’t simply to sell you something. It’s to create an unforgettable experience while crafting a handmade piece that is uniquely yours.
Your pieces don’t simply complete a look. They define it. How can you tell when someone has found the right one?
The answer is simple: we listen.
At Kemo Sabe, we don’t have an ego about what we think someone should wear. Our job is to understand who they are, how they live, and where they’ll be wearing their hat, boots, or buckle. We want every piece to feel authentic to the person wearing it, not something that stays in the closet because it doesn’t fit their world.
When someone asks us to create something from scratch, they’re putting a great deal of faith in our team. That’s why listening is the most important part of the process. We ask questions, get to know our customers, and work together until we create something that feels uniquely theirs.
You know you’ve found the right piece when it feels like it has always belonged to you. When someone puts it on and smiles without saying a word, that’s when we know we’ve gotten it right.
Customization is at the heart of what you do. How do you approach creating something that feels both personal and lasting?
For us, personalization begins long before a customer walks through our doors.
We own our own factories in Texas, where our Kemo Sabe hats, boots, and leather goods are handcrafted by skilled artisans. Having our own manufacturing facilities gives us complete control over the quality of our products, the materials we use, and the craftsmanship that goes into every piece. It also allows us to create truly custom items rather than simply modifying something off the shelf.
Our Sales Wranglers spend time getting to know each customer, how they live, what they love, and what they’re looking for. By combining exceptional craftsmanship with thoughtful conversations and years of experience, we’re able to create something that feels deeply personal.
That’s the kind of customization we believe in: creating something so personal, so well made, and so timeless that it becomes part of a family’s story.
Western style is having a renewed moment, yet what you’ve built has always felt deeply rooted. What do you think people are responding to right now?
I think people are craving the romance and freedom of the American West. It’s a way of life that’s rooted in honesty, integrity, hard work, and adventure, values that never go out of style.
There’s also something undeniably timeless about Western fashion. A great pair of cowboy boots or a perfectly shaped hat doesn’t just change the way you look. It changes the way you feel. You stand a little taller, carry yourself with more confidence, and walk into a room with a little more swagger.
And let’s be honest, there has always been something undeniably sexy about a cowboy or cowgirl.
With so many personalities passing through Kemo Sabe, are there any standout stories you can share with us?
One moment we love sharing is when astronaut Jeff Bezos took a custom Kemo Sabe hat, boots, and buckle into space aboard Blue Origin in 2021. It wasn’t just exciting because they went to space. It was exciting because it represented the journey of American craftsmanship. To think that something handmade by our artisans, designed with our team, could make that trip is something we’ll never forget.
As you bring Kemo Sabe into New York during Fashion Week, what do you feel the fashion world is craving more of right now?
I think people are craving authenticity, individuality, and quality. They’re looking for pieces that feel personal rather than mass produced, something with a story behind it.
Too often, I walk into store after store and see the same ideas repeated with only slight variations. Fashion moves quickly, but true style is timeless. That’s always been our philosophy at Kemo Sabe.
For more than 35 years, we’ve helped redefine what Western fashion can be. We didn’t invent the cowboy hat, but we helped make it relevant for people far beyond the ranch. We introduced a more fashion forward approach, distressing hats, custom branding, unique hatbands, feathers, vintage trims, and personalized details that allow every customer to create something entirely their own.
This September, you’re taking over Hatbox at Refinery with a custom liner. What made this collaboration feel like a natural fit?
The Refinery feels like the perfect home for Kemo Sabe in New York. The building’s history as a former millinery in the heart of the Garment District makes it a natural connection to what we do.
For the pop up, we’re bringing some of Kemo Sabe’s very best Brand Representatives. They are true experts in custom hats and Western styling, and they’ll help every guest discover a look that feels authentic to them, whether they’re buying their first cowboy hat or adding another piece to their collection.
On a personal note, I had the opportunity to stay at the Refinery last year, and I couldn’t have been more impressed. The hospitality was exceptional, the accommodations were beautiful, and the location couldn’t be better. It’s exactly the kind of place that makes guests feel welcome from the moment they arrive, which is the same feeling we strive to create every time someone walks into Kemo Sabe.
We’re excited to return to New York and bring the spirit of the American West to the fashion capital of the world.
Looking ahead, what feels most exciting for Kemo Sabe right now?
The most exciting part is that we’re just getting started.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen a lot of brands embrace Western style, and while it’s flattering to see the industry evolve, it also motivates us to continue doing what we’ve always done. Kemo Sabe has never been interested in following trends. We want to create them. We’re constantly dreaming, designing, and creating what’s next. There are exciting collaborations, new products, and new experiences already in the works, and we can’t wait to share them.
We are honored to welcome Wendy and Kemo Sabe to Refinery Hotel this September and invite you to experience the craftsmanship, character, and hospitality that have made the brand a destination in its own right.
