Berets, Anyone?

[ErikFid]

The day after I chose the Auloronesa foulards with headband for the new weekly Special, [cynically] I was informed of the new prices of the Boneteria Auloronesa berets. And no, it's not good news: prices of some models will rise quite dramatically.
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I already knew about the béret casquettes; very labour intensive models that simply couldn't be offered for the price originally set by the company's founder. I chose not to restock these and slowly sell out the (luckily reasonably large) stock that I have, at the original price. The béret casquettes would come well over $100.00.
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The Universels will have to go up in price, but it is the head-banded (sized) models that will see the most painful increase. The wholesale cost goes up by 80% and frankly, I am not quite sure how to adjust my prices in a way that these models can be continued...
For the month of June I'll keep prices as they are (and the Special stays on till Monday), but when the new stock comes in early July, prices will change.
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The reason behind the increase is a combination of factors, the first is that M Denis Guédon (the founder of the company) didn't have to make a living from it. At the end of his long career in beret manufacturing he wanted to set up a small artisan company that would produce the world's best quality berets, made in the very birthplace and heartlands of the beret (Béarn) and hand it over to a suitable artisan when established (and he could retire). This has now happened and brings us to reason #2 (Mme Goupie does have to make a living from making berets) and #3 the six year tax free period to start and establish a company is now over - the company is faced with serious tax invoices.
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I guess, in the end, it is the realisation that handmade products of such intense labour and very high quality become almost unaffordable in our day and age (and trust me; neither manufacturer or myself get rich from it...).
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Sad but I don't see the drama. I have several Auronesa and Aoteroa berets and compared to my fedoras these berets are dirt cheap. Quality comes at a cost and if you don't want to pay that cost there are plenty cheaper options. I love my Czech berets at 1/3 of a Auloresa, but they are not the same.
In the end you get whgat you pay for!

 

[Nico]

Officially the second day of winter. Wearing the Czech Classic Mammoth today.

 

[Trenchfriend]

@Nico
Very nice!

 

[Humanfactor]

Officially the second day of winter. Wearing the Czech Classic Mammoth today.

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Looking well put together Nico!

 

[Humanfactor]

I was at a used clothing store in the South End of Boston today and found this military béret. It was cotton, not sure what the insignia means. Any thoughts on where this is from? And the date made?

 

[Daan]

For those boineros living in the northern hemisphere, it may be welcome news to learn of the new cotton berets under the Boneteria Aotearoa label.

The agreement I have with the manufacturers of the berets made under my own label, is not to disclose who the manufacturer is. However, some experienced cotton beret wearers may feel they have seen similar berets before under another label...

The Aotearoa Berets in Cotton are of the same excellent quality as the wool models under the same label. Approximately 30.5cm in diameter, these berets come in a range of 6 colours; summer beret wear par excellence @ $46.00.

 

[Humanfactor]

Hello, fellow Béret lovers. I just want to share with you my first Historical Novel/Triller in which I have a few good Béret scenes. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DN2NX8F/ref=docs-os-doi_0

 

[Nico]

Red B.A day.

 

[Daan]

Red B.A day.

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Nice one, Nick - I love that rust-red of Boneteria Auloronesa!

For me today a "rust" too, the Aotearoa Rust under my own label; rust and fox still some of the most beautiful colours I have seen in berets (and when BA's prices go up next month, at only half their cost).

 

[Nico]

Nice one, Nick - I love that rust-red of Boneteria Auloronesa!
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For me today a "rust" too, the Aotearoa Rust under my own label; rust and fox still some of the most beautiful colours I have seen in berets (and when BA's prices go up next month, at only half their cost).

If I recall got the rust red BA from your special of the week couple of years ago.

 

[Daan]

On SPECIAL this week, the Béret Héritage!

The Béret Héritage pays tribute to it's origins: Oloron Sainte Marie, the industrial birthplace of the beret.
The embroidered beret label depicts the cow and cross that are the coat of arms of the town; the historic bridge across the river Gave that can be seen from Laulhère's waterfront factory; the Pic du Midi (which can be seen from Oloron Sainte Marie on a clear day) and the sheep is a Merino, the noble race of sheep whose fine wool is used for the making of berets.

South Pacific Berets stocks the mid-weight Héritage in black, midnight-blue, green, hermes (red), Bordeaux, brown, santal, bubbel-gum, violet and khaki - a beautifully made 10-pouces (28cm diameter) beret that pays homage to the very origins of the beret. This beret comes in it's own gift box.

Now on Special for 1 week only (or as long as stock lasts) from $55.00 @ $42.50.

 

[Babbo Philipe]

Green BA today, drinking some croatian prochec

 

[Babbo Philipe]

On SPECIAL this week, the Béret Héritage!
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The Béret Héritage pays tribute to it's origins: Oloron Sainte Marie, the industrial birthplace of the beret.
The embroidered beret label depicts the cow and cross that are the coat of arms of the town; the historic bridge across the river Gave that can be seen from Laulhère's waterfront factory; the Pic du Midi (which can be seen from Oloron Sainte Marie on a clear day) and the sheep is a Merino, the noble race of sheep whose fine wool is used for the making of berets.
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South Pacific Berets stocks the mid-weight Héritage in black, midnight-blue, green, hermes (red), Bordeaux, brown, santal, bubbel-gum, violet and khaki - a beautifully made 10-pouces (28cm diameter) beret that pays homage to the very origins of the beret. This beret comes in it's own gift box.
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Now on Special for 1 week only (or as long as stock lasts) from $55.00 @ $42.50.
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HI DAAN how is the thickness/density on these compared to the czech ones

 

[Daan]

HI DAAN how is the thickness/density on these compared to the czech ones

I'd say the Héritage is a bit stiffer, not as soft to the touch as the Czech models are, but the Héritage is of course also smaller in diameter - the Czech Classics being 29cm in diameter. Both are medium weight berets, making them easy to wear in warm weather or in between seasons.
Maybe Nico could say some wise words; he has posted a few pictures here of himself with a Héritage beret..?

 

[Nico]

I'd say the Héritage is a bit stiffer, not as soft to the touch as the Czech models are, but the Héritage is of course also smaller in diameter - the Czech Classics being 29cm in diameter. Both are medium weight berets, making them easy to wear in warm weather or in between seasons.
Maybe Nico could say some wise words; he has posted a few pictures here of himself with a Héritage beret..?

Hi Daan,
Not much more I can add. Currently have four of these beauties, it's my beret of choice whilst working indoors or driving. As stated, medium weight and easy to wear.

Cheers
N

 

[Humanfactor]

Green BA today, drinking some croatian prochec

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I have to try that Prochec!

 

[Daan]

I have worked in Croatia for a good while, but never encountered a drink named 'prochec'. However, it was darn hard to escape the daily doses of šljivovica (plum brandy), accompanied by any meeting (and often starting before breakfast...). Tough.

Berets combine well with any drink though, of course. Beer, like the gentleman with green beret above in Russia (L) and Germany (R), or wine, as enjoyed by Jacob Louis Kuechler in Pennsylvania (below, left).

Cognac and berets is a no-brainer really, as seen in advertisements like Jacquets' above, right and Bisquit's (below, left).

During the prohibition years, French from the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (off the coast of Newfoundland, smuggled wine and spirits across the border into the US (above, right) and from the (French) Basque Country comes Izarra, the "Grande Liqueur of the Basque Country.

But not every boinero is deep into alcohol, of course. What would a gaucho be without maté or people like myself without coffee?

 

[Babbo Philipe]

plum brandy, nice , never had it i bet its good

Prošek is a sweet dessert wine that is traditionally from the southern area of Dalmatia, Croatia. It is made using dried wine grapes in the passito method. Good quality Prošek is usually much more expensive by volume than other wines due to an average of seven times more grapes being needed to make the same amount of wine. While it can vary in the maximum amount, the alcohol level needed to be certified as a true dessert wine must be at least 15%.------------------------------- Daan i can t get enough of the pictures they are great, times of history of a simple day,, very reflective quality takes me away for a moment

 

[Humanfactor]

Speaking of Croatia, they just bumped off Argentina 3-0 in the World Cup.

 

[Babbo Philipe]

Speaking of Croatia, they just bumped off Argentina 3-0 in the World Cup.

Oh yea