We had the good fortune of connecting with Lexi Whaley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lexi, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I adopted the counter-culture stance towards the conventional cowboy hat; both with my artistic approach to a classic cowboy hat, and in the overall creative direction of the brand. Typical ‘country conservative’ ideology doesn’t resonate with me, despite my deep love for the real America ideology- more specifically the freedoms that this country allows us. Freedom is the greatest gift you can be given in this world. To speak and be heard, to create art outside the box and be both seen and recognized. It gives me gumption to continue pushing creative boundaries with both art and design. The cowboy hat has become my symbol for the pursuit of freedom. Freedom to work for myself, freedom to create designs that have quite literally never been tested on this medium. No one is doing what I’m doing, and that’s the Wild West I’m chasing.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The fire that fuels my art is sparked by the sheer statistics of compliments, double takes, eyebrow raises, and head turns I receive when I’m sporting one of my hats. I often say that a cowboy hat is like a blank canvas, an opportunity to elevate an already fabulous outfit to new heights. Was it easy? Hahahahahaha, NO. It still isn’t. Yet, it is undeniably what I feel destined to do. Every day brings new lessons, as I strive to improve in areas of my business that aren’t my strengths. Running your own business can be a solitary journey, growing at your unique pace. But that’s exactly it—grow at your own pace. Each day, I aim to check off at least one hard line item from the ever-growing checklist. Every obstacle becomes an opportunity. So, support your local chiropractors by donning one of my handmade cowboy hats!!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
1. Wake up babe, we’re going to Mensch’s for breakfast – quiche or their bagel & lox *chefs kiss* 2. We have an incredible circuit of galleries all over LA and a couple of apps **SeeSaw and CurateLA** make it a breeze to discover all the art-related events happening.. Essential to bring all esteemed guests to something creative outside of my garage studio.
3. Hike up to Griffith Observatory for insanely gorgeous overlook of the city. Perfect at sunset with a bottle of wine at the top.
4. Comedy show, ALWAYS – whether it’s at the Comedy Store or the Laugh Factory. For other live performances, check out Bandsintown. Bandsintown is an app and an insane resource that gives you a list of all the venues in ANY area and all the bands playing day by day.
5. Dinners on W 3rd, every restaurant is premier. Oste, Bacari, El Carmen, Toca Madera, COD, the list goes on………
6. For dessert, head to Desert 5, one of my favorites, a Pioneer-themed rooftop bar. The vibes are immaculate, with always live music. If you’re reading this, you’re probably cowboy-curious, and you’ll find the coolest cowboyz n gals aplenty there! Alternatively, anything the Houston Brothers touch turns to gold. Count on a signature speakeasy vibe in all their bars and nightclubs. No Vacancy is my personal favorite. La Descarga for those salsa dancing vibes. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang for an 80s dance floor. Winston House is another incredible venue/bar on the West side.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Leah Zeller – incredible and thoughtful artist. She was with me from the beginning of WoS. She helped shape the ideology behind the brand – and has been there for every single milestone. She is just as much War On Sanity as I am. Having ventured onto her own path, she’s dedicating herself to a full-time career in painting and mixed media. Her artistic endeavors are deeply influenced by her background in interior architecture. I deeply admire her attention to thoughtful details and her remarkable ability to release judgment in her abstract work, embodying the very essence of artistic freedom. Check her website for more details www.leahzeller.com

Website: thewaronsanity.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waronsanity/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexiwhaley/

Twitter: /waronsanity

Facebook: /waronsanity

Other: shopzandria.com

Image Credits
Zuumy, SimplyTimmy, Lars Gummer, Alexa Willis, and Kelly Broderick

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.