We set out to create the world’s most premium headwear working with only the best materials, thoughtful details, and unique, problem solving innovations.

Our Mission
melin’s mission is to build the world’s most premium headwear by combining the highest‑quality materials, unique details and problem‑solving innovation, creating hats that last five times longer, fit every head shape and enhance comfort across any adventure.

For us, a hat isn’t just an accessory that we occasionally throw on as we’re leaving the house. It’s the most critical part of our everyday wardrobe. It’s the first thing someone sees when they look at your face and their first impression of your personal style. It’s the billboard that tells the world who you are, what you value, your passions, where you’re from and how you live your life.

Being from Southern California, we grew up a part of many different cultures. We skated & snowboarded, played baseball & football, and were surrounded by some of the most influential music, art and fashion in the world. We’re equally comfortable in boardshorts at the beach as we are dialing it up to go out on Sunset Blvd. The one constant is that we never go anywhere without wearing a hat.

As our tastes evolved, we wanted something more than another cheap cap with our favorite team’s logo or a cap from an apparel brand that didn’t put any effort or thought into their headwear. We wanted something better, but it didn’t exist for us…so we decided to create it. We spent years learning how to build, improve and elevate the ball caps that we loved. We researched the most iconic fabric mills in the world and sourced the best materials available on the planet. We worked tirelessly to improve our fit, so they'd be the most comfortable caps we’d ever worn. We looked at every single detail in our caps and figured out ways to innovate them. Our entire life was focused on building the most premium caps that the world had ever seen. Finally, in 2013, we were ready to show what we had created. Inspired by the art of millinery: the craft of bespoke hat making which dates to the 15th century in Milan Italy, we are proud to present melin.

Welcome to the melin Family.
- Brian McDonell and Corey Roth Co-founders

We are committed to building the world’s most premium headwear by focusing on the highest quality materials, unique details, and problem-solving innovation.

melin was founded in 2013 in Laguna Beach, CA by longtime friends Brian McDonell and Corey Roth. Growing up as athletes and adventurers, a hat was always a part of the daily outfit. After years of putting hats to the test, frustrations grew with how quickly typical hats lost shape, absorbed sweat, or fell apart. During college, they studied traditional millinery techniques and modern performance materials to understand what could be done to fix the problems they encountered. This set them on the mission to build a better hat.

The heart of the brand is a commitment to crafting the world’s most premium and durable headwear that blends style, performance, and precision. Premium Headwear Company reflects our obsession over quality, innovation, and mission to create hats that perform as well as they look, built for those who demand excellence in every detail. Guided by our mission, crafted with precision, we build headwear to last longer and look better.

Corey Roth and Brian McDonell, the founders of melin, Premium Headwear Company

Our Story

The idea for melin started with a simple problem. Most hats were not built to handle sweat, moisture, and everyday wear without breaking down in fit and comfort. Headwear was worn constantly but designed to be replaced often.
That issue shaped our foundation. From the beginning, we focused on superior fit, long term durability, sweat and water performance, and elevated craftsmanship. Those principles continue to guide our approach to materials, construction, and design.

Our Story
The initial concept for melin was born from a love of the ball cap, but began with a clear problem - most hats were not built to handle sweat, water, and daily wear without breaking down in fit, comfort, and structure. We saw headwear that was being worn constantly but treated as disposable, with little focus on durability, performance, or innovation. Frustrated by this, the need to solve for the most comfortable fit, long-term durability, sweat and water resistance, and elevated craftsmanship became our foundation. This set us on a mission to source better materials, integrate unique details, create problem-solving innovation, and to build an overall better hat than we had ever seen before.

Our Logo

The melin logo is built around three core pillars: Materials, Detail, and Innovation.We begin with premium materials engineered for sweat management, water resistance, structure retention, and durability under daily wear and outdoor conditions. Every detail is intentional, from fit calibration and stitch precision to interior comfort and structural integrity. That foundation is pushed forward through ongoing innovation in construction methods, premier fabrics, and design processes that improve comfort, longevity, and real world performance.

Design sketches of hats in a notebook with measurement tools on a table.

Our Craft

At melin, our craft is driven by constant progress and an uncompromising focus on details.Over the years, we have introduced new shapes, sizes, collections, and technologies to push what headwear can be. Every silhouette is engineered for precise fit, lasting comfort, and long term durability. We spend more time and care on how our products are made so they perform better, last longer, and overdeliver.
Our approach will not change. We remain committed to building headwear that earns its place through quality, performance, and innovative design.

Our Logo
The melin logo represents our three core pillars - Materials, Design, and Innovation, with an ode to the history of bespoke hat-making. We start by sourcing the world’s most premium materials from across the globe, engineered for sweat management, water resistance, structure retention, and long-term durability to perform under daily wear and outdoor activities. Every detail is intentional, from fit calibration to interior comfort and structural integrity, ensuring each hat is refined at every touchpoint. That foundation is driven forward through continuous innovation in fit, comfort, construction, and problem-solving solutions, all designed to improve the overall look and feel of the hat, increase its longevity, and improve the adventures you take them on. The M in the logo, and our name melin, is a modernized spin on the 15th century tradition of custom hat-making, with those craftsmen being known as Milliners.

Our Craft
At melin, we’re dedicated to perpetual progress and a relentless obsession with details. Through the years we have introduced new shapes, sizes, collections, and technologies to continually push the limits of what is new and what is possible in headwear. We put more time, more thought, and more care into how we make our products, so we can provide you with the best hat you’ve ever worn. Every shape is engineered for precise fit, ultimate comfort, and long-term usage. Our approach will never waiver, we are committed to crafting the world’s most premium headwear.

Split view of ocean surface and underwater scenery with palm trees and buildings.

Snow-covered mountain range with a clear sky

Close-up of a white leather hat with a gold accent on a light gray background

Collage of melin store exteriors in Laguna Beach, Whalers Village, and Birkdale Village with store names and contact information.

Our Stores

In 2022, we opened our first flagship store on Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. Born from the encouragement of our friend Richard Ham, we launched Customer Experience Lab #1 right on Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. From day one, our goal was simple - create a shopping experience where we could connect directly with our community and leave lasting impressions on everyone who walks through our doors.

Coastal landscape with a hill, ocean, and cloudy sky

We partner with organizations to protect oceans, support mental health, and uplift communities—making a real impact where it matters most.

Black cap with gold accents on a red and gray display stand

Where our most limited, story-driven hats live—small-batch drops, unique collabs, and purpose-built designs you won’t find anywhere else.

Dylan Efront standing on a rock with a scenic mountain landscape in the background

From elite athletes and creators to entrepreneurs and adventurers, the melin Family is built on those who push limits and lead with purpose.

Get to know us

Discover what makes a melin hat unlike any other—from premium materials and performance details built for long days outside, to the craftsmanship and care behind every stitch. Visit our Fit Guide to find your fit and choose the right hat size, review our Return & Exchange Policy for peace of mind, explore Warranty Information for long-term confidence, or connect with Customer Service if you need assistance. Sign up for texts below to stay in the know!

Take care of us

Once your hat lands on your doorstep, we’ve got your back with guides to help you clean, reshape, and store it so it stays looking fresh season after season. Explore our Product Care Guide and Warranty, or visit melin re:Cap to give your hat a second life and keep it in play longer.

And have more fun while doing it

We’re always dropping new styles, limited runs, and fresh colorways—available on melin.com, in our stores, and select retailers. Keep an eye on our latest collections, follow along on social, and tag us so we can see how you’re putting your melin to work out in the wild.