(Scarves & Fedoras, source: Scarves & Fedoras)
For some people, style begins and ends with clothing. For Dr. Lana McLetchie, founder and CEO of Scarves & Fedoras, style speaks to something more personal: the way someone introduces themselves to the world before saying a single word. That perspective flows through the brand’s collection of fedoras, scarves, and statement accessories, where texture, color, craftsmanship, and cultural influence come together to create pieces designed to reflect individuality with elegance and confidence.
McLetchie’s connection to fashion started long before the establishment of Scarves & Fedoras. “I grew up in the Caribbean watching my grandmother handcraft straw hats adorned with raffia flowers and woven embellishments, each piece made carefully,” she shares. “Sunday events often included those handmade hats, even when the young me thought of them simply as part of a routine.”
Years later, those memories took on new meaning. The craftsmanship, artistry, and emotional connection attached to those pieces eventually became the foundation of her creative identity. “Style becomes memorable when it reflects memory, culture, and confidence all at once,” McLetchie says. “People connect deeply with pieces that remind them of who they are and where they come from.”
That understanding of identity through fashion evolved alongside a professional path not typically associated with luxury accessories. McLetchie’s early career began in military logistics, where discipline, structure, and operational precision became part of her daily life. From there, she moved into pharmaceutical and biotech environments, spending years in product development and quality assurance. Working within highly regulated systems refined her attention to detail and elevated her appreciation for consistency and craftsmanship.
Her professional journey later extended into federal service, where leadership, organization, and strategic planning became central to her work. Alongside those responsibilities, she also built a career in academia as a university professor. By the time she retired from public service, McLetchie had accumulated decades of experience across multiple industries, each contributing something distinct to her perspective as an entrepreneur. That eventually became visible in every aspect of Scarves & Fedoras, from product design to presentation.
“The turning point came during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020,” McLetchie shares. “Like many people spending more time at home, I found myself revisiting old interests.” She began purchasing hats and scarves online, yet many of the pieces she received felt disconnected from her personal aesthetic and cultural sensibilities.
“Some lacked the craftsmanship I was looking for. Others missed the expressive details I associated with style and heritage,” McLetchie states. That realization inspired experimentation. She began sourcing plain hats and raw materials, transforming them with custom embellishments, textures, and design accents inspired by her own vision.
That creative experimentation soon evolved into Scarves & Fedoras, an online luxury accessories brand based in Georgia. The company offers curated collections of fedoras, scarves, and statement fashion accessories designed for both casual and elevated styling. Pieces such as the LYNDON linen fedora, the raffia-inspired BARBADOS fedora, silk scarves, cashmere plaids, and structured Panama styles reflect the brand’s balance of timeless silhouettes and contemporary flair. Across the collections, McLetchie notes that premium materials and detailed finishing remain central to the design philosophy.
(Scarves & Fedoras, source: Scarves & Fedoras)
McLetchie’s Caribbean heritage also plays an influential role throughout the brand’s visual identity. Rich textures, bold accents, tropical references, and refined color palettes echo the style traditions she grew up around. According to McLetchie, fashion inspired by Caribbean, Cuban, and diasporic aesthetics continues gaining appreciation among consumers seeking accessories connected to culture, individuality, and storytelling. Her designs reflect that perspective through pieces that combine modern luxury with heritage-inspired artistry.
The fedora itself holds particular significance within McLetchie’s creative world. In her view, the hat’s cultural journey mirrors themes of reinvention and self-expression that continue resonating across generations. “The fedora has lived many lives across decades and communities,” she says. “Its story speaks to reinvention without losing sophistication, and I connect strongly with that idea.”
That parallel between designer and design appears throughout Scarves & Fedoras. McLetchie herself transitioned across industries, identities, and professional environments before entering fashion entrepreneurship. The fedora followed its own path across eras, cultures, and style movements while remaining connected to a sense of timeless refinement. Together, they form a narrative rooted in adaptability, heritage, and modern relevance.
As the brand expanded, another unexpected development emerged. McLetchie initially envisioned Scarves & Fedoras as a women-focused brand. Yet many of her early neutral-toned fedora designs quickly attracted male customers. “The structured silhouettes in black, cream, and brown resonated strongly with men who wanted accessories that blended sophistication with individuality,” she shares.
McLetchie believes the response reflects growing interest among men in expressive accessories connected to heritage and personal identity. That momentum also inspired her to continue expanding the women’s side of the business with collections tailored for events such as polo gatherings and resort occasions.
As visibility increased, Scarves & Fedoras reached major milestones within fashion and media spaces. The brand’s designs appeared during Paris Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week. Scarves & Fedoras also appeared on billboards in Times Square, bringing McLetchie’s designs into a cultural destination.
Another milestone arrives this summer with McLetchie’s appearance in the upcoming documentary series titled She Is ATL, which highlights women entrepreneurs from diverse professional backgrounds across Atlanta. The project explores unconventional entrepreneurial journeys, making McLetchie’s transition from public service and academia into luxury fashion especially compelling.
Even with expanding recognition, Scarves & Fedoras continues to reflect the same personal philosophy that inspired its beginning. Every collection speaks to identity, memory, reinvention, and expression through thoughtful craftsmanship and cultural storytelling. For McLetchie, fashion remains deeply connected to emotion and self-definition. “Luxury becomes meaningful when people see themselves inside the design,” she says. “That connection is always more lasting than trends alone.”
