Field Notes

Seth McWhorter x Imperial is a collaboration with one of our favorite single-human creative studios. Seth is the founder, chairman and (self-named) janitor of McWhorter Creative . You may recognize his work in our Golf Designs collection where his playful logos speak to the heart of every golf enthusiast with a sense of humor. The combination Seth’s designs paired with Imperial’s iconic styling makes for a pretty sweet hat. Read our interview with the man behind the art below, and browse his newest art on your favorite caps in Imperial x Seth McWhorter. From rope hats to mesh back hats, from fun golf logos to funny golf logos, this hat collection is for every golfer. And if for some reason it’s not, you can take Seth’s logos and design your own hat. Seth McWhorter Golf Hat Collection: Rope Hats, Mesh Back Hats, Patch Hats & More! Golf Mesh Back Hats & Golf Trucker Hats Most of the Seth McWhorter collection will be made on mesh back hats. It only makes sense to pair the new golf logos with the cool vibes the golf mesh back hat gives off. In addition to these hats having different structures and styles, every hat is breathable and colorful. The mesh back hat styles in this collection feature the Catch and Release, the Structured Performance Mesh and the North Country Trucker Cap. Golf Rope Hats Surprise, surprise – the golf rope hat in this collection is also a mesh back! The Pagosa Mesh Back Rope Cap combines the most stylish features of each hat type and voila - a masterpiece! If you prefer something different, don’t forget you can always design your own golf rope cap. Golf Lightweight Cotton Caps You will find Seth McWhorter’s designs on our Zero Lightweight Cotton Cap, which comes in a plethora of colors. With the light material and a solid structure, this cotton golf hat is sure to be comfortable - especially in humidity! Design Your Own Hat with McWhorter Creative One of Imperials’ biggest pleasures is knowing you can take your creativity to the next level anddesign your own golf hat to your liking. With our personalized hat tool, you can choose your favorite rope cap or meshback hat and pair it with one of Seth’s golf designs. Take our custom hat designs to the next level with the McWhorter Creative logos. Meet Seth McWhorter: Golf Hat Designer Extraordinaire We had the opportunity to ask Seth some more questions about his newest golf hat designs. From what he tells us, he puts a lot of thought into his golf logos, so we’re sure you’re going to love them as much as we do. Plus, read about which golf hat design Seth is most excited about... Over the years, you’ve had the opportunity to work with some really cool brands on a variety of projects. You’ve created designs for packaging, apparel, branding and advertising... (Besides your new collaboration with Imperial) what have been some of your favorite projects? It's been a privilege to work with so many brands and individuals over the past few years that share the same passions and interests that I do. Narrowing down to a list of favorites would be impossible, but I have found that my favorite projects are the ones that create lasting relationships with a client. I have the good fortune of working with clients that I now consider friends. The guys at No Laying Up have been wonderful clients and supporters of my work over the past 2-3 years, which has led to more work with good folks at Sweetens Cove, Zac Blair with the Buck Club, Tom Pashley at Pinehurst, (obviously Imperial!) and the list goes on. I realize now that I'm not answering the question, but each project becomes a "favorite" at some point - sometimes just not until long after it's finished... Do you enjoy any kind of design more than any others (typography, logo design, layout, etc.)? Do you consider yourself to specialize in any one type of design? My enjoyment of individual aspects of design definitely fluctuates. Logo design is certainly what I spend the majority of my time working on, but it can be a grueling and frustrating process sometimes. I've recently had a few opportunities to work on mascot or character designs, which I've found fun and rewarding. I've certainly started gravitating towards a certain style of illustration that shows up in my logo/branding work as well as the commercial illustration work I often get hired for. It's sort of a soft and loose illustration style that borders on being cartoonish. I think it's approachable but deceptively clean and unique. A lot of clients come to me and say, "I want you to do something in your own style,' but in reality they have a specific set of guidelines and criteria that subconsciously influences their evaluation of the work. Therefore, I have to ask the right questions, fully understand the context within which the work will exist, and then choose the best type or style of design. I've found that if you're going to be successful and make a living in the design world, you have to specialize in the type of design that solves the clients problems and meets their needs in the most creative, visually appealing way possible. On your Instagram, you sometimes show the process of your sketches becoming digital art. Is sketching always part of your process? Absolutely, however, I have a very loose definition of "sketching." Sure, 80% of the time, my "sketching" takes the form of actual pencil and paper. Sometimes it's an Apple Pencil and my iPad. Sometimes it's straight into Adobe Illustrator and away we go. But every project starts with an exploration phase where I am tinkering, iterating, and evolving the work to a point where I'm ready to share it with another human being. The process work I'm sharing on my Instagram is probably .01% of the actual work that goes into a design. There's only so much I can or want to share with the world. The rest is probably best hidden away. What is your favorite design in the new Imperial x Seth McWhorter Collection, and what is the story behind it? While most people probably won't get the reference, I'm a big fan of "The Kid", which is my re-creation of the video game character from Mario Golf on Game Boy Color. Yes, it's very "if you know, you know"—and probably won't sell all that well—but that character takes me back to when I was 12 years old, sitting in the backseat of my parents car on the way to a junior golf tournament. I remember the glare on the screen was always an issue with the Game Boy. But man, those were the days. I still have my Game Boy Color and the game with my original character intact—I might try and get a round in this afternoon. How has McWhorter Creative grown/evolved in 2020? What’s next for your studio in 2021? Like the rest of the world, 2020 was a learning experience in every aspect of life. As it was my first full year running a solo creative studio, it was about simply cranking out as much work as I could reasonably handle because I really didn't know what the future held (especially in such a crazy world). 2020 provided some tough learning experiences, mostly having to do with the amount of work I was taking on and how much to charge for it. Design is not a product you can hold in your hands—so selling its value can be a challenge. Not only do you have to sell the idea of the design, then you have to do the damn work! But I have a strong belief that there is tremendous value when design is done well, and that should be reflected in how much I charge for it. As for 2021, I obviously remain focused on the quality of my work, but I have a keener eye on the business side of things—charging for the work, scheduling projects, saying "no" when necessary, and understanding how to run a business that's centered around my own ability to come up with ideas and solve problems creatively within real world constraints. I operate a business where the reward for good work is more work, so I hope it keeps coming. The 2021 Imperial x Seth McWhorter Collection is sure to fulfill all your wildest golf dreams (except for a hole in one). Enjoy Seth’s golf hat designs and choose your favorite from his collection or design your own with our online hat designer tool.

When you look around a Fore the Ladies Clinic, you see women across the golf course, learning how to hold a golf club, practicing putting drills and smiling while enjoying a drink or two. Fore the Ladies, Inc., is a female-based community and non-profit organization with the intent to introduce more women to the game and bring women together to play, watch and participate in everything golf has to offer. They hope to make golf more accessible and approachable, while removing the expected barriers. We caught up with founder Abby Liebenthal to learn more about her organization, which you can check out here. Where did the idea for Fore the Ladies, Inc. come from? I was the only girl in my group of friends growing up who played golf. I never thought much of it, as it was simply a family activity. This theme continued through college, but more of my friends wanted to at least try to hit golf balls and learn the game. These comments popped up throughout the years, increasing as we moved into our careers and opportunities to play were given and passed on during business outings. Throughout my golf career, I have connected with so many women who simply do not know where to start when it comes to golf. They are not sure they will like the game, so they do not want to invest in lessons, clubs, apparel and access to a course. I understand that sentiment. I would not purchase a membership to a cycle studio without trying first. I was finding programs for junior female golfers, women in executive roles or members of a country club, but there was a void for young professional women to learn about golf. I hosted my first Fore the Ladies Clinic in 2019 as an attempt to make something for this group and we had 70 women show up! I was shocked, but also realized that when you create the venue, women will come. Fore the Ladies is creating opportunities to dip your toe into the sport. Women may walk away wanting to begin lessons, or golf might not be for them, but at leastthey get to make that decision, rather than being pushed away by barriers from the game. Fore The Ladies, Jacksonville Beach, Sunday, September 22nd, 2019. Where do you host clinics? At first, I was hosting clinics in locations in which my friends lived. Since then, we've been lucky enough to have facilities reach out to us in hopes of hosting a clinic, so now it's a mix of where I want to travel and where people are looking to get involved. This year we are going to: Baltimore, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Fla., Atlanta, San Francisco, San Diego, Champaign, Ill., and Toledo, Ohio (for now!). How do you find women to participate in the clinics? It's all about the hustle. I'm reaching out to friends and family in the local community, women's organizations, local businesses and so much more. In my opinion, if we want to reach more people and introduce them to the sport, we need to go where they are - they're not necessarily at the golf course already! What if a woman already plays golf but wants to get involved with Fore the Ladies? We've noticed that our community is a mix of current players and women new to the sport. For those who have already been introduced to the sport, we have a directory called the Fore the Ladies Tee Sheet that women can register to and find other women in their area to set up a round. This year, we hosted our very first golf getaway for women with Pinehurst Resort, which welcomed us for a weekend of golf, off-the-course activities and camaraderie. We hope to do more of these in the future and expand our offerings for current female golfers! What's next for Fore the Ladies? It's crazy to think about what we have achieved in two years, especially when all but two of our events were cancelled in 2020. We are still a young non-profit organization, but we are focused on reaching as many women as possible and introducing them to the sport. I think we are going to focus a lot of our time in the next two to three years getting women to continue their journey with golf after a FTL clinic, whether that be through lessons, teeing it up or even tuning in more to women's professional golf. Abby Liebenthal, Fore the Ladies, Inc., Founder @AbbyLiebs LinkedIn

New York, NY —The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is proud to announce Imperial Headwear as the “Official Headwear” and National Promotional Partner of the NKF Konica Minolta Golf Classic, which to date has raised more than $100 million to promote kidney health and improve the lives of the 37 million Americans affected by kidney disease. NKF Konica Minolta Golf Classic events are held at some of the most prestigious courses across the country providing corporations additional opportunities to partner with customers and colleagues while also supporting corporate social responsibility and a great cause. “We’re so excited that Imperial Headwear is joining us during the 2021 season as the National Promotional Partner for the NKF Konica Minolta Golf Classic tournaments,” said Kevin Longino, CEO, National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant patient. “When you have kidney disease, you’re at an increased risk of developing life-threatening complications from COVID-19 . This incredible partnership comes at a critical time for our kidney community and truly helps us raise awareness and the funds needed to continue advancing kidney health. The partnership between the National Kidney Foundation and Imperial Headwear includes a curated collection of headwear, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting NKF. “Golf has been a great respite for those seeking leisure and exercise for hundreds of years, but never more so than in the past year during the global pandemic,” said David Shaffer, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Imperial. “That’s why we’re so pleased to continue our partnership with the National Kidney Foundation by providing our most popular hats at their golf events held throughout the country. We’re very proud to do our part in helping support patients and families affected by kidney disease, especially during these challenging times,” added Shaffer. Successful since it was founded in 1987, the NKF Konica Minolta Golf Classic is The Premier Amateur Golf Event for Charity. Each year thousands of golfers from across the country participate in nearly 30 local events held at top venues, entertaining clients, and playing for the chance to qualify in the National Finals held at the prestigious Pebble Beach on January 14-17, 2021. Participating golfers raise $3.5 million annually to benefit the National Kidney Foundation and the 37 million Americans affected by kidney disease. The series showcases Konica Minolta as the National Title Sponsor and IAA, Inc as a National Corporate Partner. National Promotional Partners include the Greg Norman Collection and Imperial Headwear. For more information about the NKF Konica Minolta Golf Classic, or to find an upcoming event near you, please visit NKFKonicaMinoltaGolfClassic.com. All golf events will adhere to COVID-19 guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as any state-specific guidelines. Please review NKF’s “Know Before You Go ” for additional information. Kidney Disease Facts In the United States, 37 million adults are estimated to have kidney disease, also called chronic kidney disease (CKD), and approximately 90 percent don’t know they have it. 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. is at risk for kidney disease. Risk factors for kidney disease include: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and family history. People who are Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander are at increased risk for developing the disease. Black or African American people are almost 4 times more likely than Whites to have kidney failure. Hispanic or Latino people are 1.3 times more likely than non-Hispanics or Latinos to have kidney failure. About Imperial Headwear Founded in 1916, Imperial Headwear is the leading manufacturer of premium quality headwear, apparel, and accessories for the golf market. Imperial’s products can be found at 97 of the Top 100 and over 70% of the Top 400 golf courses in the United States. The Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM) has voted Imperial the #1 golf headwear brand for four consecutive years. Imperial is committed to style, functionality, and perfection in fit and comfort. It is this commitment that has allowed the creation of a wide variety of headwear and apparel with quality that is second to none. Renowned for its superior customer service and art customization capabilities, Imperial offers its products using the most innovative fabrics and designs, as well as logo decoration and embellishment technologies. For further information please visit imperial1916.com or call (800) 950-1916. Follow Imperial Headwear on Twitter and Instagram at @ImperialHats and on Facebook at facebook.com/ImperialHeadwear . Imperial Headwear’s 100th Anniversary video can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/179793530 . About National Kidney Foundation The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the largest, most comprehensive, and longstanding patient-centric organization dedicated to the awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney disease in the U.S. For more information about NKF, visit www.kidney.org . Contact: Julie Kimbrough, 212-889-2210, ext. 136 Email: julie.kimbrough@kidney.org Karla Thomas, 212-889-2210, ext. 133 Email: karla.thomas@kidney.org

Imperial recently announced their continued partnership with the Gateway PGA Section, and the creation of theImperial – “The Hometown Hat of the Gateway PGA” Program. Imperial’s headquarters are just outside St. Louis, Missouri, which is also home to the Gateway PGA Section. Included in the partnership agreement between the two local organizations, Imperial will be the Title Sponsor of the Imperial Headwear Pro-Assistant Championship.Imperial will also provide all of the officially branded staff headwear for the Gateway PGA, Junior PGA, and participants of the Gateway PGA Pro Am tournaments in 2021-2022.“Imperial is very proud of our strong relationship with the Gateway PGA Section and we are happy to continue the partnership,” said Mike Wrightson, President of Imperial Headwear. “Our ties to the St. Louis community and the PGA of America are very important to our Company.”Imperial recently supported the Gateway PGA’s most prominent events hosted by hall of famer Ozzie Smith, The Annual Ozzie & Friends Pro-Am Tournament. Imperial created a unique cap with style X210P featuring a 3D Insignia of Ozzie Smith doing one of his signature backflips on the front. The annual event is held every year at the Country Club of St. Albans. Proceeds benefit the Gateway PGA Section and PGA Reach Foundation.“The Gateway PGA is honored to have Imperial Headwear headquartered in the same section in which we serve our PGA Members,” said Ali Wells,Executive Director of the Gateway PGA. “ Imperial is the Hometown Hat of the PGA, we value that relationship and look forward to our continued partnership and dedication to grow the game of golf in the area we both call home”.