Reprint courtesy of Lake Oswego Review and West Linn Tidings      
 

08/18/05

STAFF PHOTO / MATT SHERMAN

Lauren Hoyez shows off her patented bang-go cap that eliminates "hat hair" for women by letting their bangs fly free while still proving the sun protection of a ball cap.

No more hat hair with bang-go cap

By MATTHEW SHERMAN
Staff Reporter

At a glance, it's difficult to notice that there's something different about Lauren Hoyez's hat. And that's the point.

Nearly a decade ago, Hoyez set out to create a stylish hat without the negative side effects of traditional ball caps.

The result is the bang-go cap, a cross between a ball cap and a visor that allows women to fit their bangs through the front of the hat, saving them from "hat hair." But the design still protects the top of the wearer's head from the sun.

Hoyez, who lived in Lake Oswego for 18 years, first got the idea for the bang-go cap in 1996. A long-time golfer and tennis player, she found that, after a long day with a hat on, she was embarrassed by how it would make her hair look. She tried visors but found that most models pinched her temples, leading to headaches.

But she also realized the importance of protecting her head during a day in the sun after living in Arizona for a number of years.

"I think a lot of people who live in Oregon don't really think about protecting their head as much because we don't get the extreme heat up here. But in the southwest, you simply need to wear a hat when you're outside," Hoyez said.

After tinkering with designs for a while, Hoyez decided that her idea was good enough to become a full-time venture for her. So she quit her job of more then 20 years as a systems analyst for Fortune 500 companies and sought out a pattern designer.

"It was tough to find a pattern and a manufacturer because no one makes hats like this," Hoyez said.

She also went through the lengthy patent process, eventually being awarded one in October of 2003. The hat has gone through a number of minor alterations but Hoyez said she believes she is finally ready for a marketing campaign.

"I'm just starting to see what direction this is going to take me," Hoyez said. "I've had a lot of response from people from warm weather climates but I'll just have to see which areas are most interested."

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