BARBISIO Brothers

[EL-Jimenez74]

Thanks for the info @jeffgarf and @steur I appreciate it.

 

[Daniele Tanto]

Jeff and Stefan’s explanations are accurate and provide a precise picture of the Barbisio brand.
It is likely that the brand was licensed out before Barbisio ceased operations around 1980–81. It is probable that a South American importer offered to handle production themselves and sell the hats under the Barbisio name by securing a license.
A similar situation occurred with Borsalino, which licensed its brand to Bolmann.
The late seventies and early eighties were a very difficult period for the Italian hat-making industry, and these were the consequences.

Thanks for the info @jeffgarf and @steur I appreciate it.

A small personal note: it is fairly easy to distinguish "original" Barbisio hats from those manufactured by the Cervo hat factory over the last fifty years or so.

 

[EL-Jimenez74]

Jeff and Stefan’s explanations are accurate and provide a precise picture of the Barbisio brand.
It is likely that the brand was licensed out before Barbisio ceased operations around 1980–81. It is probable that a South American importer offered to handle production themselves and sell the hats under the Barbisio name by securing a license.
A similar situation occurred with Borsalino, which licensed its brand to Bolmann.
The late seventies and early eighties were a very difficult period for the Italian hat-making industry, and these were the consequences.

A small personal note: it is fairly easy to distinguish "original" Barbisio hats from those manufactured by the Cervo hat factory over the last fifty years or so.

How can you identify thse made by Cervo vs "original" Barbisio hats? Thanks

 

[Daniele Tanto]

How can you identify thse made by Cervo vs "original" Barbisio hats? Thanks

This is a Barbisio made by Cappellificio Cervo. You see no trademark on the lining and some others details in finishing and constructions.
The main point is that a soft bowler hat constructed in this way—with very vague details, straddling the line between feminine and masculine, and featuring colors far removed from classic Barbisio styles—is quite distinct.

This is a classic Barbisio in terms of its shape, color, details, and construction. You can see that quite clearly.
One of my favourite

Important note: The Cervo hat factory produced magnificent Barbisio hats; even as late as the 1980s and 1990s, some of their pieces were truly superb. It should be noted that Cervo always manufactured its own felt in-house and leveraged the remaining materials and the expertise of the former Barbisio workforce—after all, the two facilities are located just three hundred meters apart in the Cervo Valley.

 

[Pellie]

2 Super Barbisio's extra lusso came in today.
First one in color Arno, dark blue. Very soft felt. A bit stiffer then the other one, but not much. The hat is brand new, no signs of wearing.

 

[Pellie]

2nd one: color Cufra, dark brown. A bit softer then the blue one. Also never worn. Both great hats.

 

[EL-Jimenez74]

View attachment 817987 View attachment 817988
This is a Barbisio made by Cappellificio Cervo. You see no trademark on the lining and some others details in finishing and constructions.
The main point is that a soft bowler hat constructed in this way—with very vague details, straddling the line between feminine and masculine, and featuring colors far removed from classic Barbisio styles—is quite distinct.
View attachment 817989 View attachment 817990
This is a classic Barbisio in terms of its shape, color, details, and construction. You can see that quite clearly.
One of my favourite
View attachment 817991
Important note: The Cervo hat factory produced magnificent Barbisio hats; even as late as the 1980s and 1990s, some of their pieces were truly superb. It should be noted that Cervo always manufactured its own felt in-house and leveraged the remaining materials and the expertise of the former Barbisio workforce—after all, the two facilities are located just three hundred meters apart in the Cervo Valley.

Thanks, for the additional information!!

 

[jeffgarf]

Thanks for the info @jeffgarf and @steur I appreciate it.

I'm going to confuse things a bit more, by showing this hat, a Hungarian made Barbisio. The license has traveled far and wide. I'm not sure if this license is still used for these hats, but I'm almost certain this factory is Sunemar. For the Hassidic community, a very, very stiff felt

 

[EL-Jimenez74]

I'm going to confuse things a bit more, by showing this hat, a Hungarian made Barbisio. The license has traveled far and wide. I'm not sure if this license is still used for these hats, but I'm almost certain this factory is Sunemar. For the Hassidic community, a very, very stiff felt

View attachment 820249 View attachment 820250 View attachment 820251

Jeff;

Are most hats made for the Jewish community, a stiffer felt? I've seen quite a few on eBay that I have considered purchasing. Any info is always appreciated. Thanks

 

[jeffgarf]

Jeff;

Are most hats made for the Jewish community, a stiffer felt? I've seen quite a few on eBay that I have considered purchasing. Any info is always appreciated. Thanks

So, there are two different categories of hats made for separate sub communities. The Hassidic community (of which I am not a member) wears flat brimmed, very very heavily shellacked hats, like the one posted above. These are very hard, not really moldable hats (like top hats). The non-Hassidic community, where I belong, wears the fedoras that you see pop up for sale (usually sold in stores in NY and NJ). In recent years they have become a heavier weight felt than basic standard dress felts due to the length of time and the repeated nature of their wear. Many of these have moved to fabric sweatbands (away from leather), again for comfort reasons. These hats don't really present as any different than any other modern made dress hat. There are still those of a lighter weight felt sold and it really depends on customer preference, but anyone who has handled or worn a vintage dress weight Borsalino (or a Stetson P**yboy or the like) would not confuse the vintage and the modern.