FROM THE COAST TO THE COURSE: Flyway hats offer UPF 50+ headwear for individuals who make a living working or playing outdoors.
THOMASVILLE — As a sixth-generation hatter, John Wagner was destined to follow in the family trade. For over 150 years, Wagner’s family operated Bayly, Inc., a manufacturer of uniform headwear for police, military, fire, postal, airline, and marching bands worldwide. While Wagner was proud to carry on the family tradition, he also had a vision of his own to craft a custom-made hat that combined function with fashion. After years of collaboration with artists, pattern makers, and skilled craftspeople, Wagner launched Flyway Hats in 2007 in Thomasville on Genesis Parkway.
Inspired by the long-distance travels of migrating birds and a love for the outdoors, Wagner said the roots of the Flyway brand stemmed from creating UPF 50+ headwear for individuals who make a living working outdoors.
“We began with making sun-protective headwear for the United States Postal Service workers, and golf course maintenance and staff,” Wagner explained.
From there, it just exploded.“We found that there were a lot of baseball caps around, but not a wide selection of quality wide-brim sun protection,” Wagner said. “In the golf business, but also in the coastal business and other businesses, there just wasn’t enough of a selection, so that’s why we launched it.”Since its inception, Flyway has taken off, launching partnerships with Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge, Walt Disney World, Greenwich Country Club, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and the PGA of America Regional Chapter, and it’s easy to see why.
Each hat not only features wide-brimmed protection but also offers fashionably tailored styles. The hats are contemporary straw hats that offer the perfect blend of comfort, performance, style, and personal expression.
They are also made, designed, and customized locally, ensuring that every hat is stamped with Flyway’s commitment to ethics, quality, and craftsmanship.
Wagner has loved to see his vision come to life and is proud to see a need met for a niche community.
“It’s a niche we found underserved,” he said. “From the Coast to the Course, our team has created collections that provide performance, comfort, and style.”
As Wagner continues to expand Flyway’s offerings in 2026, customers can look forward to several new partnerships and more custom styles for women.
This year, Flyway partnered with Lindsey at Litore Studios to pair her appreciation of the beauty and rhythms of the Coastal South with birds that are always on a migratory journey. The special partnership led to a limited edition artist collaboration known as The Litore Twilley.
“We are excited to be launching independent artists collaborations, support for PGA Tour caddies, and partnerships with charities that share our values,” he said. “We are just trying to spread our wings. We started out with just myself, and now we are up to fifty people, so we are super excited for what this year is going to bring.”
While on tour, customers can pick up custom-created hats for the event or order hats from the website, flywayhats.com. They can also create their own hats by working with Wagner and the team to make something incredible happen.
“We believe this is what sets us apart,” Wagner said. “Thomasville is somewhat of a hotspot for artists and craftspeople, and the entire team takes pride when we see our products on stage, at iconic events, or at professional golf events.”
Wagner realizes that without his team, none of this would have been possible, and he looks forward to the continued creation and collaboration that the next decade will bring.
