A Past & A Future
Refurbished Hats from Creative Hatter Mark Dancinghawk Kunde…
Mark Dancinghawk Kunde has worn many hats. Over the years, he has worked as a police officer, carpet installer and cleaner, house cleaner, upholsterer and singer-songwriter in a band, among other occupations. For the past 25 years or so, fittingly, Kunde has been a hatter.
But Kunde does not simply make hats. He upcycles old, misshapen, stained hats and creates works of wearable art. It’s like cosmetic surgery for felt, straw, leather or whatever material the hat is made from.
“Every hat has a story, a past and a future,” Kunde says. “I help in restoring the past and bringing the past into your future.” Kunde promises he can upcycle “your old forgotten hat and make it something you would be proud to wear again.”
An Artist at an Early Age
When Kunde talks about his passion for hats, his eyes light up. “I’ve been creating art for a long time,” he says. “From when I was a little kid, my mom would set me down in church and give me scribble lines to keep me occupied. I’d look at those lines and come up with a picture of something out of them. It’s progressed now to hats.”
Kunde’s journey into hat-making was a natural evolution. After his band, Double Crossed, disbanded, he transformed his music studio into a full-fledged art studio. It was here that he began to breathe new life into old hats.
“I had so many hats that I just got tired of looking at them in their present state,” he explains. “I’d reblock them, reshape them and turn them into something new that fit my personality.”
His love for hats isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s also deeply personal. One of his most meaningful creations is a hat that belonged to his father. “It was just an old cowboy hat he had in his closet. When he passed away, I got it from my brother and redesigned it. I think of my dad every time I look at it.”
Connected to His Indigenous Roots
Mark’s talent doesn’t stop at hats. He’s also deeply connected to his indigenous roots. Adopted by the United Lumbee Tribe, Mark has created indigenous artwork, such as dance shields, powwow drums and more.
His work has even caught the attention of country music stars like Willie Nelson, Travis Tritt, Hank Williams Jr., Big & Rich and Jason Aldean.
But it’s the hats that capture his heart. “It’s nostalgic,” he says. “Whether you’re an indigenous person wanting to pay homage to your ancestors or a farmer wanting something representative of you, you can personalize it. It’s been a fun journey.”
When he is not in his art studio or hunting for used hats, Kunde enjoys spending time with his wife, Carrie, their four daughters, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Kunde’s story is a testament to the power of creativity and the beauty of reinvention. Each hat he upcycles is more than just a piece of headwear – it’s a statement, a memory and a unique piece of art. •
