Fruition Hat Company

Where Craftsmanship Meets Ceremony And Style Becomes Legacy

Luxury lives in restraint, intention, and the confidence to honor tradition while redefining it. Fruition Hat Company occupies that rare space where craftsmanship becomes ceremony and style becomes personal legacy. Each hat is not merely worn—it is experienced, curated, and claimed. Through refined silhouettes, fearless color, and a deep respect for individuality, Fruition elevates headwear into a form of self-expression that feels intimate and bespoke.

This is luxury that does not announce itself loudly, but lingers—felt in the precision, the story, and the unmistakable sense that what you are wearing was made with you in mind.

The Interview

Taroue Brooks: Fruition Hat Company sits at the intersection of craftsmanship, culture, and commerce. What was the original vision behind the brand, and how has that vision evolved as the company has grown?
Stanzel Jackson: The original vision was to breathe life into traditional headwear—introducing bold color and a fresh perspective to a space that often lived in black and brown. As the brand evolved, so did our understanding of what truly mattered: we chose to make Fruition about people.

While our customers were always important, we didn’t anticipate how transformative genuine collaboration would be. Designing alongside our community has been a gift—one that continues to shape our creative direction. Our motto,

“Be You, Be True,” anchors us daily, honoring the reality that individuality is not a trend, but a luxury in itself.

Taroue Brooks: In a marketplace crowded with fashion labels, how do you define Fruition’s identity, and what values guide the decisions you make as a brand leader?
Stanzel Jackson: Fruition’s identity is artful, intentional, and deeply personal. Every piece we create is treated as a work of art—not a transaction or a quick design exercise. We don’t assemble hats; we compose them.

Each one is thoughtfully designed, tastefully executed, and held to an uncompromising standard of quality. Our values integrity, craftsmanship, and care—guide every decision, ensuring the experience feels as elevated as the finished piece itself.

Taroue Brooks: Entrepreneurship often demands both creativity and discipline. How do you balance artistic expression with the operational realities of building a sustainable business?
Stanzel Jackson: The realities of running a business are always present, but we’ve learned the importance of stillness. We pause, observe, and remain present. Something as simple as stepping outside for a walk can be a creative reset. That presence feeds the artistry behind our work.

When you slow down, you begin to notice beauty in unexpected places—and that awareness becomes part of the design process. For us, balance isn’t about compromise; it’s about protecting creativity while honoring structure.

Taroue Brooks: Headwear has long been a symbol of individuality and cultural expression. How does Fruition Hat Company honor heritage while remaining forward-thinking in its designs?
Stanzel Jackson: We honor heritage by respecting tradition rather than erasing it. Certain styles, like the fedora, require classic elements to preserve their soul—and we embrace those boundaries.

At the same time, we are fearless in expression. We lean into color, texture, and bold design choices. We’ve learned that being unafraid to make a mistake often leads to creating someone’s next favorite piece. Progress, for us, comes from honoring the past while confidently shaping what comes next.

Taroue Brooks: What challenges did you face in the early stages of building the company, and which moments proved to be turning points that shaped your confidence as an entrepreneur?
Stanzel Jackson: In the early stages, the greatest challenges were building systems and assembling the right team. Trusting the process when the outcome is unclear requires faith and patience.

Yet every obstacle worked in our favor. Each challenge sharpened our instincts and strengthened our leadership. Over time, those experiences taught us to trust ourselves—and that trust became the foundation of our confidence as entrepreneurs.

Taroue Brooks: Brand loyalty is earned, not assumed. How do you cultivate authentic relationships with your customers and community in a way that goes beyond product sales?
Stanzel Jackson: We believe luxury begins with being seen. Beyond the sale, we value every client as an individual. We take time to learn about their families, passions, and lifestyles—those details matter.

Authentic relationships are built by showing up as our true selves. People can feel sincerity, and our community recognizes that we genuinely care. Loyalty follows naturally when people feel understood and reflected in what they wear.

Taroue Brooks: As the fashion industry continues to shift toward purpose-driven brands, how does Fruition Hat Company approach impact—through storytelling, representation, and community engagement?
Stanzel Jackson: Impact lives at the core of everything we do. Storytelling is our heartbeat—“Be You, Be True” guides both our designs and our dialogue.

Representation matters because everyone deserves to feel respected, encouraged, and celebrated. Community engagement is our driving force—Fruition Hat Company would not exist without the people who support us. We’re committed to pouring back into our community while continuing to build meaningful connections with those we meet along the way.

Taroue Brooks: The next chapter for Fruition Hat Company is expansion. What can customers expect next, and what wisdom would you share with aspiring entrepreneurs?
Stanzel Jackson: The next chapter is about thoughtful expansion—meeting new people, placing our products in unexpected spaces across the country, and offering an even more elevated experience. Fruition may also extend beyond hats, because the brand has always been about more than one product—it’s a lifestyle and a philosophy.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, I’d say: trust yourself completely. Step into your customer’s experience and exceed expectations—that’s where longevity lives. And finally, master your logistics. Build strong systems, test them often, and never hesitate to refine or rebuild when necessary. Growth requires both courage and clarity.

SEPTEMBER GRAY
Proprietor of September Gray Fine Art Gallery

BIO 

Gray’s life’s work is a reflection of her enduring passion for the arts. Following a noteworthy career in the performing arts, Gray launched a successful fine art consultancy practice wherein she was celebrated for her ability to assist corporate and private collectors with articulating and executing single acquisition and long–term collecting strategies. Gray’s career in the arts and decade as an art consultant inform her role as gallerist. An avid collector, Gray has a talent for “speaking the language” of both artist and collector and a knack for connecting the gallery’s clients to works by artists whose vision and methodologies resonate with their individual tastes, complement their existing collections and honor their overall investment strategy and appetite for risk. Gray holds a B.A. in Art History from DePaul University. A committed art education advocate, Gray serves on a number of non-profit boards and is co-founder of The Gray Foundation, an organization committed to building a world of enriched life options for youth through the promotion of art and education. Gray shares art news and collection strategies in her electronic quarterly journal, The Gray Book.

https://septembergrayart.com/

JUSTIN SULIVAN, CFP
Senior Vice President Market Leader

BIO 

Justin oversees a team of professionals striving to achieve the highest level of client satisfaction. His top priority is that the team not only meets, but also exceeds the client’s expectations. Through Justin’s leadership and commitment, he helps ensure that the client benefits form a full complement of investment, trust, financial planning and private banking services to help them achieve their financial goals.

XAVIER DANIELS

BIO  

Paintings are influenced by his experiences with brotherhood at both Morehouse and as a firefighter. In creating his art, he is actively thinking about the perception of black men and attempting to be a catalyst for a different view on the black male experience. According to Daniels, the conversations happening in popular culture about black males leave them invisible in discussions about themselves. The portraits of black men Daniels creates are large in an effort to symbolically assert black male presence into those conversations. His work has been shown around the world through Almine Rech and Richard Beavers Gallery. Xavier lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia.

https://xavierdaniels.com/

MARRYAM MOMA

BIO

A Tanzanian-Nigerian visual artist based in Atlanta, GA, is renowned for her prolific exhibition history. Moma’s dedication to her art has earned her prestigious residencies at The Migration Artist Residency, Atlanta, GA, and a blended residency and teaching opportunity at The Swimming HoleFoundation in Upstate NY. The Hambidge Center for the Arts awarded her a Distinguished Artist Fellowship, enriching her narrative-driven solo exhibitions like “ICONoclasts.” This showing intertwines paper cut elements to celebrate and empower revolutionary Black figures. Moma continues to innovate within her practice, expanding her presence through murals, public art installations and exhibitions including an indoor mural for Clark Atlanta universities student innovation lounge sponsored by Dell Technologies and Home depot, ICONoclasts Atlanta building-wide public installation sponsored by Dashboard and If Not Us then Who public digital art mural sponsored by A&E Atlanta. 

https://www.marryammoma.com/

DL WARFIELD

BIO

Atlanta-based artist DL Warfield, a veteran artist who has consistently proven himself a talent of the highest caliber – one who has delivered at the highest levels repeatedly throughout his life and career. Yes, many artists are talented; DL Warfield is prolific.

Warfield’s body of work proves his instinctive knowledge and understanding of pop culture and has given him a permanent place at the cutting edge of the new and next. From St. Louis to New York City, Atlanta and worldwide, his talent, skill and endless creativity have taken him to the top of his field again and again, and he intends to push forward wherever a path to artistic excellence can be forged.

The following is a snapshot of his works and clientele. 

Nike, Sprite, Heineken, Anheuser-Busch, Geffen Records, Sony Entertainment, DreamWorks, Sony Music, OutKast Inc., Universal Records, Boys & Girls Clubs, HBO, Virgin Records, Coca-Cola, Adidas, Vibe Magazine, automotive giant Ford Motor Company. He designed the branding for the City of Atlanta’s Film and Entertainment office and at the same time, His fine art has been featured at national landmarks, including the Time-Life Building in New York City, and the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, KY, which he loaned two original pieces for three years.

https://dlwarfield.com/

EDDIE FONTNO

BIO

A native of the Bronx, New York, is most inspired by the brilliance and uniqueness of excellence within the African American culture. The subjects of his work have all possessed a transformative greatness, which paved the way and changed the lives of many, providing a guiding light for the world around them. Fontno takes a subtle approach and focuses on that “light” to capture the detailed nuances through his usage of graphite and oil paint (black and white) that enhances the contrast between light and dark. Fontno’s never-ending quest to find truth and beauty in its most natural form is reflective in the choice of figures in his pieces; paying homage to those who have in some way shaped his view of the world and positively affected his evolution as an artist, father and man. Fontno attended the High School of Art & Design in New York, New York and Howard University in Washington, DC. His work has been displayed in the White House (Madam Vice President Kamala Harris’ private office) and the much-acclaimed October Gallery in Philadelphia, Pa. He has also been commissioned for portraits throughout the Northeast region. 

www.eddiefontno.com

RSVP

We are no longer accepting RSVPs for the Art of Luxury Lifestyle Dinner, but you are welcome to RSVP Here for the Portrait Reveal Event from
9:30PM to 11:30 PM!

ROBERT KOOL BELL| LE KOOL CHAMPAGNE

BIO

For many years, Robert Kool Bell, Leader and Co-founder of Kool & The Gang, sought out Grand Cru Vineyards from owners that have been selling for generations and decided to work with Paul Berthelot a Multi-Vintage producer since 1884. Voila The Celebration Champagne was born! 

https://lekoolchampagne.com

EDDIE FONTNO

BIO

A native of the Bronx, New York, is most inspired by the brilliance and uniqueness of excellence within the African American culture. The subjects of his work have all possessed a transformative greatness, which paved the way and changed the lives of many, providing a guiding light for the world around them. Fontno takes a subtle approach and focuses on that “light” to capture the detailed nuances through his usage of graphite and oil paint (black and white) that enhances the contrast between light and dark. Fontno’s never-ending quest to find truth and beauty in its most natural form is reflective in the choice of figures in his pieces; paying homage to those who have in some way shaped his view of the world and positively affected his evolution as an artist, father and man. Fontno attended the High School of Art & Design in New York, New York and Howard University in Washington, DC. His work has been displayed in the White House (Madam Vice President Kamala Harris’ private office) and the much-acclaimed October Gallery in Philadelphia, Pa. He has also been commissioned for portraits throughout the Northeast region.

Website: www.eddiefontno.com