René Mantilla and his journey to becoming a sought-after designer reads like a fairy tale. It’s a story of faith, hard work, and an unrelenting belief in the power of dreams.
The dream began in 2011 during a trip to his family’s homeland of Ecuador. Mantilla couldn’t quite grasp what it was, but he felt a stirring, a sense that his destiny was somehow tied to this place. Back in New York, as he was watching a documentary about Coco Chanel, it hit him like a bolt of lightning: he was meant to make hats.
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Most would have dismissed this as a passing vision, but not Mantilla. He saw it as a calling, a divine message he couldn’t ignore. “I wasn’t praying for money. I wasn’t praying for status,” he says. “I was praying more for direction and protection.”
And so, with little more than a dream and a plane ticket, Mantilla set off for Ecuador to learn the craft of hat-making. It was a bold move, but Mantilla has never been one to shy away from a challenge.
Over the next several years, he hurled himself into his new vocation with an enthusiasm that bordered on obsession. He apprenticed with master artisans, learning the intricacies of felt-making and blocking. He scoured markets for the finest materials – lush rabbit felt, supple leather, vibrant woven textiles. And he worked – tirelessly, relentlessly – to perfect his designs.
The early days were lean. Mantilla was a one-person operation, handling every aspect of the business himself. He was the designer, the craftsman, the marketer, and the manager. But he never complained. For him, this wasn’t just a job but a mission.
His big break came in the form of a pop-up shop at Nordstrom. For 11 days, Mantilla showcased his hats, winning over customers with his impeccable craftsmanship and infectious passion. The response was overwhelming, and at the end of the run, Mantilla presented Nordstrom with a detailed analysis of his sales and customer demographics. They offered him a permanent spot in their flagship store two weeks later.
It was a defining moment, realizing a dream that once seemed to exist in the distant future. But for Mantilla, it was just the beginning. He sees his hats not just as accessories but as tools for empowerment. Each one reminds the wearer that they are capable of great things.
Today, Mantilla’s fedoras grace the heads of celebrities and everyday people alike. They’ve become a symbol of a certain kind of New York cool—effortless, authentic, and unapologetically unique—much like the city and the man who makes them.
But despite his success, Mantilla remains grounded, guided by the same faith and humility that have been his companions from the start. He still begins each day with a prayer, thanking God for his guidance and asking for his protection. And he still ends each day in his studio, working late into the night, guided by a purpose that shows very few signs of slowing down.
In a city full of dreamers and hustlers, René Mantilla stands out for his talent, tenacious commitment to his craft, and unshakeable belief in the power of possibility. His story reminds us that even the wildest of dreams can come true with faith, hard work, and a dash of divine intervention.
Mantilla’s hats serve as a subtle but powerful reminder of our shared humanity in a world that often feels increasingly divided and disconnected. After all, we all have dreams, we all face challenges, and we all, at one point or another, need a little something to help us stand tall and face the world with confidence. For some, that something might be a René Mantilla original.
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