25 Years of Wallaroo Hats
A Message of Gratitude from CEO and Co-Founder Stephanie Carter
Hello Wallaroo Family,
2024 is an exciting year for Wallaroo Hat Company because it’s our 25th anniversary! It’s crazy how quickly 25 years can fly by - it seems like yesterday that starting a hat company was just an idea.
As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, I’d like to begin by thanking you, our customers, for helping make our anniversary possible. We wouldn’t be here without you.
I would also like to take a moment to share how Wallaroo Hat Company came to be.
Our Origin Story
While visiting my husband’s family in Australia in the late 90s, I noticed that the people there paid a lot of attention to skin cancer prevention and sun protection. They talked about and used products with SPF (the Sun Protection Factor found in creams and cosmetics) and UPF (the Ultraviolet Protection Factor in fabrics). Sun protection was a big deal in Australia.
But back home in the US, this wasn’t the case. The need for both SPF and UPF wasn’t a popular topic of conversation. This meant a lot of people were putting themselves at risk for skin cancer.
I returned from that trip inspired to raise awareness about the need for sun protection. This desire led to the creation of Wallaroo Hat Company.
The Vision
I started with a simple mission—to create stylish sun protection through functional hats that were comfortable, fashionable, and easy to wear. In addition, I wanted our hats to be easy to carry and take on the go - because, as we all know, traditional hats can be tough to pack. We envisioned hats that looked great even after folding, rolling, or packing.
25 years later, we’ve accomplished this and so much more.
Breaking Barriers as a Female Owner
In addition to being new to the world of UPF sun protection, the headwear industry had traditionally been male dominated. But that didn’t stop me as I forged ahead while simultaneously having babies and raising my family. I was very intentional in the strategy to evolve the brand and company, and always tried to maintain the delicate balance between career and family. My kids grew as Wallaroo grew. As I look back, I hope that what I did can be an example for other new moms- it is possible to have both a career and a family, as long as one remains true to oneself and values.
Proud to be a B Corp
As Wallaroo has grown, we’ve always tried to be aware of our impact on the world. We have worked hard to ensure our actions align with the greater good in our community and the world. Because of our efforts, Wallaroo Hat Company achieved B Corp Certification in 2014. As a B Corp, we’re part of a movement working to transform our economic system for the better. We’re aware of how our practices affect workers, customers, suppliers, the community, and the environment. As I consider the milestones we’ve hit since 1999, becoming a B Corp is at the top of the list.
Growth Due to Great Employees, an Outstanding Design Team, and Amazing Manufacturers
I firmly believe that a company’s success is directly tied to a great group of employees, and I can’t imagine a better crew than our team here at Wallaroo. I’m proud to say that the majority of our team has been with us for years and some of them since the beginning, and the entire team constantly impresses me with their loyalty, tenacity, determination, and hard work. We’ve stuck together through the years, even during the many challenges presented by the pandemic. And we’re not just a team of employees; we care about each other like family and work hard toward a common vision.
I’m also grateful to our design team and manufacturers worldwide. Thanks to my team’s efforts, we have more than 300 hats in varying styles, fabrics, and colors. There’s truly a hat for everyone. We work hard every year to create new styles, materials, and colors to meet the needs of our customers around the world.
Giving Back
At Wallaroo, we have a lot to be thankful for, and we like to show our appreciation by giving back. In 2001 we founded the Wallaroo Sun Protection Commitment program, where 1% of our net proceeds go to organizations that promote skin cancer prevention, education, and research. Wallaroo proudly supports the Melanoma Research Foundation, The Skin Cancer Research Foundation, and the Colorado Melanoma Foundation among others.
As a Certified B Corp, we also feel it’s important to give back to our community. Our employees often volunteer in the local Boulder community for clean-up projects and look for ways to support local businesses.
The biggest thanks go to our customers.
Last but certainly not least… We are so grateful for our customers. Without your support, we wouldn’t have grown to be known and loved around the world. I have had the good fortune to meet some of you on my travels—from a fellow pilgrim wearing a Wallaroo hat along the Camino de Santiago in Spain to the tourist and Wallaroo customer who caught my eye on the streets of Rome to our fans in Canada and beyond—I see and appreciate you!
Collectively, you’ve taken our hats to beaches, mountains, lakes, markets, trails near and far, as well as the fairways of the world as you tee off with our Carkella golf hats. As we know, there’s a Wallaroo hat for everyone!
From all of us at Wallaroo Hat Company, please accept our deepest gratitude for your trust in us to supply you with fashionable, functional sun protection you can take anywhere. Here’s to the next 25 years.
And remember ~
