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homesicksteve

Familiar Face
Messages
56
Location
Kent; UK
^
I'm in the UK & have to rely on mail-order...
The best value decent hats I have are from Akubra in Australia. (The Hattery is my choice for supply)

https://hatsdirect.com/collections/...ation-iv-deluxe-open-crown?variant=6745449669

Our US cousins across the pond seem spoiled for choice in comparison & will no doubt suggest further options...

Welcome to the forum - the little I know about hats I learned here.
 

Bill Hughes

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,162
Location
North Texas
Sorry to hear about your experience, but pleased that it’s not just me! As I say, I’m really happy with the quality of the hat - especially for the price. What makers would you recommend I look at in my search for a wide or widish brimmed Fedora?
What size do you wear?
 

AbbaDatDeHat

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,829
Thanks for the welcome, AbbaDatDeHat. I’m still umming and ahing about the Panizza. I just know I want a nice wide or widish brim fur felt Fedora for my birthday in March (and I’ve made my wife aware of this, too). I live in Japan where the hat culture isn’t spectacular. I have to travel at least a couple of hours to find a decent hat shop and the prices tend to be significantly more than purchasing online - even including international postage. I’m always a bit nervous buying without trying the hat on, though. Any recommendations for good value, good quality makers would be appreciated. I’ve got a couple of Bailey summer hats I’m very happy with. I’m also thinking about a Bigalli Fedora for everyday wear.
Hey Shoe:
I can’t help you with makers. I’ve never bought a new hat. Mine are all vintage and most from eBay.
Do not dismay, i’m sure others here will chime in in short order.
B
 
Messages
10,832
Location
vancouver, canada
Thanks for the welcome, AbbaDatDeHat. I’m still umming and ahing about the Panizza. I just know I want a nice wide or widish brim fur felt Fedora for my birthday in March (and I’ve made my wife aware of this, too). I live in Japan where the hat culture isn’t spectacular. I have to travel at least a couple of hours to find a decent hat shop and the prices tend to be significantly more than purchasing online - even including international postage. I’m always a bit nervous buying without trying the hat on, though. Any recommendations for good value, good quality makers would be appreciated. I’ve got a couple of Bailey summer hats I’m very happy with. I’m also thinking about a Bigalli Fedora for everyday wear.

Give some serious consideration to a custom made fedora. The pricing is surprisingly competitive to an off the shelf Stetson and lower than a Borsalino. You get THE hat you desire with assurance it will fit.
 

itsallgood

One of the Regulars
Messages
179
When does Stetson disclose its Fall City lineup? I'm feeling restless for another quality hat, hopefully something in cornhill. Do you think anyone at Stetson noticed that the distribution channel was quick to sell out of anything in cornhill last year?!?
 
Messages
18,401
Location
Nederland
Yikes $75 for a sweatband change. I love JJ Hat Center and have spoke to Kevin a few times, and have bought a few hat from the boys but that price is steep. I just dropped off a Borsa for a new sweatband today at Henry The Hatter in Southfield Michigan, $35 and he asked if I wanted a Henry The Hatter sweat or a Borsalino sweat. I said Borsalino, I didn't know anyone had a borsalino replacement leather sweatband?
That is interesting. I've never heard of anyone offering Borsalino replacement sweatbands. Curious about what is going to turn up.
 

Arrowit

New in Town
Messages
13
That is interesting. I've never heard of anyone offering Borsalino replacement sweatbands. Curious about what is going to turn up.

I picked it yesterday from Henry The Hatter in Southfield Michigan. Sure enough a Borsalino replacement sweat band. Steamed and brushed it and gave it a quick bash this morning.
IMG_2376.JPG
IMG_2378.JPG
IMG_2379.JPG
 
Messages
18,401
Location
Nederland
I picked it yesterday from Henry The Hatter in Southfield Michigan. Sure enough a Borsalino replacement sweat band. Steamed and brushed it and gave it a quick bash this morning. View attachment 208660 View attachment 208661 View attachment 208662
Sure enough. Looks a bit different from their usual logo though. It's missing the "Grand Prix Paris 1900" for example. But there are many different forms of their sweatband logo and it's better than a general sweatband. So why not.
borsalino ardilla 59_08.jpg
 

Hat and Rehat

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,444
Location
Denver
I picked it yesterday from Henry The Hatter in Southfield Michigan. Sure enough a Borsalino replacement sweat band. Steamed and brushed it and gave it a quick bash this morning. View attachment 208660 View attachment 208661 View attachment 208662
Do they also have other brand's sweatbands?
Sure enough. Looks a bit different from their usual logo though. It's missing the "Grand Prix Paris 1900" for example. But there are many different forms of their sweatband logo and it's better than a general sweatband. So why not.
View attachment 208674
That's right, Stefan. Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
 

DaveProc

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,118
Location
Rhode Island
I'm sure it has been asked before, but I am in search of a competent reasonably priced shop on the East Coast of the US to replace the sweatbands on a couple of my hats.
 
Messages
10,832
Location
vancouver, canada
I'm sure it has been asked before, but I am in search of a competent reasonably priced shop on the East Coast of the US to replace the sweatbands on a couple of my hats.
There is a post on this thread / previous page. JJ Hats in NY City charge $75, Henry the Hatter in S Michigan charge $35. In my experience $35 is a decent price. I think the lowest I paid was $25 but that was from a custom hatter I have ordered many hats from and he did it as a favour. The only hatter I know of on the east coast is Alley Kat in Pennsylvania, not sure if he does repairs...but maybe worth a check. FineVintageFedoras on Etsy do good work and he does refurb work at a reasonable price.
 

DaveProc

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,118
Location
Rhode Island
There is a post on this thread / previous page. JJ Hats in NY City charge $75, Henry the Hatter in S Michigan charge $35. In my experience $35 is a decent price. I think the lowest I paid was $25 but that was from a custom hatter I have ordered many hats from and he did it as a favour. The only hatter I know of on the east coast is Alley Kat in Pennsylvania, not sure if he does repairs...but maybe worth a check. FineVintageFedoras on Etsy do good work and he does refurb work at a reasonable price.
Thank you!
 

The Shoe

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,158
Location
Wakayama, Japan
It’s not. You had it right in the first post. It’s a poor customer service issue.
Further to this, the question remains unanswered by Christys’ after a week. It’s been a full month altogether. I got on the live chat again last night and explained the process I’d been through and also mentioned I’d joined a hat lovers group and got an answer within 5 minutes. I also told them that because of this I wouldn’t be purchasing the Fedora I had my eye on, but had ordered a Panizza instead. The live chat person was apologetic but the live chat people are always friendly. They just don’t know anything.
Anyhow, it finished with him telling me to “pop back in” if there’s anything else they can help with. I told them I didn’t think that would be happening!
 
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
I just received a Stetson Forty fedora today. I’ve done a Google search of The Lounge looking for other examples. I’ve seen several HCA hats with the Forty designation, but no other Stetsons. Was this a short-lived model? Anyone else have one?
 

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