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Berets, Anyone?

Daan

Vendor
Messages
940
Location
Wellington, Aotearoa
Peaked berets or béret casquettes were popular during the 1950s through 70s, but have since largely disappeared. When I started The Beret Project, 10 years ago now, it was close to impossible to find a proper Basque beret with peak. I recall I found a Chinese made affair on Ebay that inspired me to look further (and arrange with the known beret manufacturers to get these noble hats back in production).
peaked+beret+mirror.jpg

Seeing what is available now, it is hard to imagine it being so different only 10 years back.
In France, and to a certain extend in the UK and Germany, peaked berets were a popular alternative to berets for a younger generation growing up after the war; the Basque beret was seen as the hat of their fathers, while it was still a time that everyone wore a hat.
Artists like Corneille added to its popularity.
Corneille5.gif
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In the same period, foresters, railwaymen and barge skippers in Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Romania adopted the peaked beret en masse. While travelling in the CSSR during the 1980s, I bought a photobook of "happy socialist workers", many donning a peaked beret (but the book has unfortunately disappeared somehow, over the years...). Below two vintage (1950s) French models:
upload_2018-6-27_9-22-37.png
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Soon after the start-up of Boneteria Auloronesa, Denis Guédon developed his own
béret casquette, based on the 10p Auloronesa Universel. In my opinion this is still the ultimate peaked beret, but unfortunately the significant extra time and handling to produce these, makes them prohibitively expensive and after selling my present stock, these won't be restocked.
upload_2018-6-27_9-24-42.png
upload_2018-6-27_9-24-49.png

Searching for an affordable and quality alternative, TONAK was happy to delve into their catacombs and do a remake of the old FEZCO peaked beret (yes, the same one that all those happy workers wore; 60, 70 years ago!).
upload_2018-6-27_9-34-33.png
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I chose for two stunning colours: the Mammoth (known from the Czech Classic and 11.5" models) and the new 'heather midnight-blue'. Only arrived here yesterday, guess what I'm wearing now?
upload_2018-6-27_9-34-2.png
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100% wool, universal size and (presently) at only $44.50.
 

GrayEyes

Familiar Face
Messages
79
Location
a northern factory town
Officially the second day of winter. Wearing the Czech Classic Mammoth today.

View attachment 120965

I don't own a Czech Mammoth, but I am 95% sure that I own that exact same scarf. But where I live, it's more like 35 degrees C.

And I can't wait until it's more like 10 degrees or less so I can go back to comfortably wearing a nice wool beret. I'd even settle for 15.
 
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Daan

Vendor
Messages
940
Location
Wellington, Aotearoa
On SPECIAL this week, boinas from the Fábrica Nacional de Sombreros in Uruguay!
upload_2018-7-1_11-36-58.png
upload_2018-7-1_11-37-16.png
upload_2018-7-1_11-37-25.png

This week a massive Special; in price reduction, size and variety. With many new berets in the pipeline for later this year, room needs to be created and with a large stock of berets, or boinas, from Uruguay, what better way then to slash prices on these berets for a little while.
upload_2018-7-1_11-38-41.png
upload_2018-7-1_11-39-28.png
upload_2018-7-1_11-38-57.png

All models are presently (much) reduced in price, from the basic Nutria (now @ $25.00) to the massive 35cm Cataluña @ ($44.50). In between, many standard Cataluña's and Castlla's in merino and cotton (@ $37.50).
upload_2018-7-1_11-42-20.png
upload_2018-7-1_11-42-27.png
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On Special for for as long as stock lasts, but be quick - some models will sell out fast!
 

ErikFid

New in Town
Messages
36
Location
Big Apple
On SPECIAL this week, boinas from the Fábrica Nacional de Sombreros in Uruguay!
View attachment 124952 View attachment 124953 View attachment 124954
This week a massive Special; in price reduction, size and variety. With many new berets in the pipeline for later this year, room needs to be created and with a large stock of berets, or boinas, from Uruguay, what better way then to slash prices on these berets for a little while.
View attachment 124955 View attachment 124958 View attachment 124957
All models are presently (much) reduced in price, from the basic Nutria (now @ $25.00) to the massive 35cm Cataluña @ ($44.50). In between, many standard Cataluña's and Castlla's in merino and cotton (@ $37.50).
View attachment 124959 View attachment 124960 View attachment 124961
On Special for for as long as stock lasts, but be quick - some models will sell out fast!
These cotton boinas from Uruguay are the best summer hats I have and believe me, I have a few hats!
 

Daan

Vendor
Messages
940
Location
Wellington, Aotearoa
Wool berets may not be too much on the mind of those on the opposite part of the world (from NZ), these days of drought and heatwaves, but for those die-hard boineros who simply won't go without a beret, I have good news!
upload_2018-7-5_14-28-20.png
upload_2018-7-5_14-28-27.png

The new stock from Boneteria Auloronesa has just arrived and apart from the usual re-stock, these fine boxes contain some very new models. A small diameter 9p/256mm diameter beret has often been asked for, but is not part of the standard models of the company. I now have these custom (hand)made Auloronesa Universels - black only and in a very small number.
upload_2018-7-5_14-29-56.png
upload_2018-7-5_14-30-8.png

Also new in the range of Universels are the navy and jean models in my favourite diameter of 10.5p/29.5cm.
By popular demand, the range of XXL sizes of Auloronesas with leather headband has been expanded; sizes 62, 63 and 64 available in both models.
upload_2018-7-5_14-37-47.png
upload_2018-7-5_14-37-54.png
upload_2018-7-5_14-38-1.png

And, all un-lined models are well stocked again, in 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11 and 12p/Alpin!
 
Last edited:

Babbo Philipe

A-List Customer
Messages
339
Location
San Pedro
Photo on 7-8-18 at 10.23 AM.jpg
Wool berets may not be too much on the mind of those on the opposite part of the world (from NZ), these days of drought and heatwaves, but for those die-hard boineros who simply won't go without a beret, I have good news!
View attachment 125430 View attachment 125431
The new stock from Boneteria Auloronesa has just arrived and apart from the usual re-stock, these fine boxes contain some very new models. A small diameter 9p/256mm diameter beret has often been asked for, but is not part of the standard models of the company. I now have these custom (hand)made Auloronesa Universels - black only and in a very small number.
View attachment 125432 View attachment 125433
Also new in the range of Universels are the navy and jean models in my favourite diameter of 10.5p/29.5cm.
By popular demand, the range of XXL sizes of Auloronesas with leather headband has been expanded; sizes 62, 63 and 64 available in both models.
View attachment 125435 View attachment 125436 View attachment 125437
And, all un-lined models are well stocked again, in 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11 and 12p/Alpin!
theres something to say about the smaller diameters, i have 3, its a mood thing though, this is why i have a wide variey of sizes, i am very moody,,,LOL
 
Last edited:

Daan

Vendor
Messages
940
Location
Wellington, Aotearoa
ReHats from Berlin (Germany) is a new, young company that's shaking up the traditional hatters industry.
rehats_logo_white.png

ReHats creates headgear from upcycled burlap coffee bags and unique colourfully printed material for linings; all are Oekotex100 certified; headgear that is sustainable, made in Germany and at a fair price for worker and consumer.
upload_2018-7-13_20-11-7.png
IMG_20180713_181749776.jpg

Adding to their range of fedora’s, trilby’s and flat caps, ReHats has now created a line of berets exclusively for South Pacific Berets.
upload_2018-7-13_20-11-19.png
IMG_20180713_181749776.jpg

The berets measure 25cm in diameter and are all handmade; no one model the same as another! Presently available in sizes 57 - 60 @ $64.50.
IMG_20180713_182013730.jpg
upload_2018-7-13_20-15-56.png
 
Last edited:

Daan

Vendor
Messages
940
Location
Wellington, Aotearoa
On SPECIAL this week, FEZCO's Classic Peaked Berets!
upload_2018-7-17_16-13-56.png
upload_2018-7-17_16-14-4.png

Per Two in Five Different Combo's: Classic Peaked Berets in pure wool in two colours and Cotton Summer Peaked Berets in navy.
upload_2018-7-17_16-19-4.png
upload_2018-7-17_16-19-11.png

The wool models are classic peaked berets, reinstated exclusively for South Pacific Berets. These 10p/28cm diameter peaked berets were favoured by Czechoslovak railwaymen, foresters and barge skippers during the 1950s - 1970s, but are rarely seen nowadays. Made of 100% wool in 'Mammoth" and 'Heather Midnight Blue'. Perfect headgear for all your 'round.
upload_2018-7-17_16-16-55.png
upload_2018-7-17_16-17-8.png

A warm-weather alternative for the merino wool béret casquettes, are the custom made models by FEZCO-TONAK for South Pacific Berets. These lightweight, 100% cotton peaked berets are presently available in navy only, but in 2 diameters: 10" (25.5cm) and 11" (28cm); one size fits all so no worries about sizes. Very light, very comfortable
upload_2018-7-17_16-15-16.png
upload_2018-7-17_16-15-23.png

On Special in tandem combination for as long as stock lasts at a massive discount; 1 Wool/1 Cotton @ $55.00 - 2 Wool Berets @ $60.00!
 

Daan

Vendor
Messages
940
Location
Wellington, Aotearoa
upload_2018-7-23_17-18-20.png

While I had to get back to heavy duty merino wool today (in the shape of a foulard Aotearoa in quetsche), I got a taste for my cotton berets again last week - some of the warmest mid-winter days in Wellington that I can remember.
A fine reason to put some good summer headgear on special: a selection of boinas Tolosa Guarda Pampa, in the standard 30cm and the extra large diameter Plato Grande in 34cm
upload_2018-7-23_17-24-3.png
upload_2018-7-23_17-24-10.png
upload_2018-7-23_17-24-18.png
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As always, for one week only (or as long as stock lasts) at a good discount: $42.50 / $47.50.
 

RJR

Messages
10,620
Location
Iowa
View attachment 128058
While I had to get back to heavy duty merino wool today (in the shape of a foulard Aotearoa in quetsche), I got a taste for my cotton berets again last week - some of the warmest mid-winter days in Wellington that I can remember.
A fine reason to put some good summer headgear on special: a selection of boinas Tolosa Guarda Pampa, in the standard 30cm and the extra large diameter Plato Grande in 34cm
View attachment 128060 View attachment 128061 View attachment 128062 View attachment 128063
As always, for one week only (or as long as stock lasts) at a good discount: $42.50 / $47.50.
While Daan is shivering in winter cold,I just received one of his coffee sack berets. Beret-Coffee Sack 1.jpg
 

Daan

Vendor
Messages
940
Location
Wellington, Aotearoa
Always searching for material for The Beret Project, I came upon these two 1981 NASA photos and immediately had to think of fellow Fedora Loungers Foamy and Nico:
"Candid views of crew-members in the forward and aft flight deck"
255-STS-41B-11-383.jpg

Description: Mission specialist Ronald McNair, wearing beret and sunglasses, poses with the 16mm Arriflex movie camera and a clapper board. His name badge reads ``Cecil B. McNair``
255-STS-41B-11-384.jpg

And while posting anyway, this week's SPECIAL are the upcycled burlap "coffee bag" berets by Berlin based hatter ReHats, from $64.50 @ $50.00!.
2018-07-31.png
 

Kreissaege

One of the Regulars
I havent worn a beret for three month.
The woolen ones are far too warm, no matter how "great" merino wool is claimed to be. And the cotton ones, soaked with sweat after half an hour and stinking, cant be washed.
Waiting for autumn to arrive.
 

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