Grassroots California 1.0

Grassroots California founder Ryan "Ruga" Connolly had a traditional upbringing in the suburbs of Detroit. He graduated from the University of Colorado, and then found himself in California to begin his adult career.

He initially joined the corporate hustle and bustle in real estate finance, only to find it wasn't for him. His passion lied elsewhere, and a new direction was needed.


Becoming part of the counter culture in California, Ryan embarked on a journey to express himself in a film. Funding his film was a daunting challenge. With a little brainstorming and lots of help from friends, an idea grew into reality, and the seed for GRC was planted.

Years later, GRC designs a new hat nearly every day, with the continued focus on carrying only limited edition products. GRC is now sold in all 50 states as well as 20 countries around the globe.

GRC headquarters is now located in Denver, CO. The company is made up of 20 amazing full-time staff, along with a large support system of friends and family. This spring, GRC will be opening a brand new retail location in Denver and Chicago. Recently, they have opened their first international pop-up store in Barcelona, Spain.