SAN DIEGO — Tucked away at a boutique in Oceanside, you can find Austin Zito creating one-of-a-kind designs recently worn by world-class athletes including the San Diego Padres and WWE Superstar Dominik Mysterio.
Zito and his team are the hands behind the North San Diego County-based luxury, custom cowboy hat brand, Zito Hat Co. The unique fashion company creates handmade western-style cowboy hats using high-quality materials and traditional techniques.
Customers can stop by the shop in South Oceanside and work with the designers to create a semi-custom hat on the spot.
“What my brand is about, is about delivering a really cool experience, but also delivering the highest quality hat that you can buy,” said Zito, owner and founder of Zito Hat Co.
Zito grew up in San Diego County and says the region is a big source of inspiration for his designs.
During the 2024 MLB All-Star game in Arlington, Texas, San Diego Padres players wore a recent cowboy hat design created by Zito that America’s Finest City inspired.
“I grew up in San Diego, and so, of course, the Padres were a huge inspiration. I've been a Padres fan since, you know, the day I was born,” Zito said.
WWE superstar and San Diego native Dominik Mysterio was recently seen wearing the same hat design at Summerslam in Cleveland and on Monday Night Raw.
"Of course, Dominik Mysterio. Everyone knows Rey Mysterio. I like the WWE, I watch it and, I wanted to kind of make something that I was inspired by," he said.
As the company continues to gain global attention on TV and social media, Zito says he’s proud to be designing such a unique type of fashion here in his hometown.
“I think it's important to plant my flag in San Diego and bring something cool and unique to the city,” Zito said. “I would do this if I was doing it for free.”
Photos | Zito Hat Co in Oceanside
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