Berets, Anyone?

[Bird Lives]

Hey Daan, who, what, where and how are you doing? I've been away, now I'm back in Southside Turkey. I'm going to rummage through here and see what's going on.

I posted my Elosegui Pirineos over on the What Cap are you wearing today and thought of you. You were so great filling me in on how these caps are made. You're the man!
So I thought, since this really is a beret, I should post it over here too.

 

[Bird Lives]

Following all the posts on how boineros store their berets, I found these pictures in my files - sent to me by a customer years ago.
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A very clever and beautiful method!
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Super!!

 

[alanfgag]

A perfectly timed arrival for the vernal equinox up north... two Childish/Flamingo berets - heather gray for the waning winter and grassy green for the arrival of spring. The wool in these is scrumptious, the shape is soft but not as blousy as my other Flamingo beret, which suits me.

Happy spring or happy fall, as the case may be.

 

[Mm25]

Halfway point of a 9 mile river hike.

 

[Daan]

Watch and enjoy this beautiful video of Pedro Tena from Iglesuela del Cid (Teruel, Spain).

Pedro Tena explains the artisan manufacturing process of a capolla flute, also known as shepherd's bagpipes, with a piece of pine wood and a bull's horn.

And the latest news from South Pacific Berets:
I managed to purchase the last remaining stock of boinas Tolosa Tupida in merino wool and cotton from an Argentinian wholesale company.

The small number available are listed here; the very last of these fantastic berets (and once they're gone, they're really gone...).

 

[Daan]

Lots of news from le Laboureur!

Adding to the range of traditional Casquettes in burel wool and corduroy, South Pacific Berets now stocks three more completely new models.
Often asked for and now finally available: the traditional workers casquette in bleu de travail Moleskin. Moleskin is a heavy cotton fabric, woven and then sheared to create a short, soft pile on one side.

Clothing made from moleskin is noted for its softness and durability; French workers of many generations wore ("bleu de travail") workwear made of moleskin. The cloth is so densely woven as to be windproof.
Its name is due to the soft brushed hand of the fabric, like mole fur.

An alternative to the traditional casquette, designed in 100% merino wool. The Casquette Bombée is a domed cap, chic, and trendy, perfectly complementing the outfit of the artisan worker and just as good to wear to the opera or theatre. Italian made exclusively for Le Laboureur.

The most luxurious in the Le Laboureur Casquette range: the 'Casquette en Lin'. These casquettes are made of 100% French linen, supreme in comfort and looks!

 

[Daan]

A new page at South Pacific Berets: FREE BERETS!

Obsolete stock. All berets listed on this page are free with any regular priced beret purchase - all you pay is $2.80 for added postage cost.

 

[alanfgag]

A walk on the beach to reflect on fifty years together... with a Flamingo amidst the gulls.

 

[quikrick]

Le Béret Français, Cabillou rouge.

 

[Daan]

By Invitation Only:

In 2020 SPB introduced the Flamingo Chobo400 Exclusive Chasseurs Series. Superb berets based on the Chobo400 Exclusive berets, modelled on the famous "Tartes" of the Chasseurs Alpins (the French elite mountain troops) and the Chasseurs Ardennais (the Belgian "Hunters of the Ardennes").
Exclusively for South Pacific Berets, Flamingo Berets has made a new batch in 3 additional colours, now available to selected customers: Raven-Black, Wine and RAF-Blue.

These berets share all of the Chobo400 Exclusive model’s characteristics: heavy (130 gram) weight, handmade, naturally dyed, rinsed in Mount Aso groundwater and open-air sun-dried. However, the Exclusive Chasseurs Series is fitted with a full-hood cotton-linen lining and now available in five stunning colours.

All are fitted with the trademark 'Original Flamingo' label and the Flamingo trademark size-adjustable headband. Only a grand total of 60 berets has been made.
The Flamingo Chobo400 Exclusive Chasseurs Series was priced at $110.00 in 2020, when the series came out. Now, as an introductory price for a very limited time to selected customers, all models discounted to $100.00.

More info: click here.

Back in stock, after too long an absence, are the full ranges of cotton and hemp Flamingo Basque: see here.

 

[Fern]

View attachment 513278
Le Béret Français, Cabillou rouge.

Good look for you Rick!

 

[Fern]

It’s the end of boina season this year for me, but wanted to share all the best ones I wore this year!

 

[Fern]

 

[Daan]

On Netflix presently the Norwegian film Narvik, a historical film depicting the Battles of Narvik from 9 April to 8 June, 1940.

By April 1940, Narvik, a small harbour on the Atlantic in northern Norway, had 85% of the iron ore used by the Nazi Germany's war machine exported through its port. Attempts to disrupt this process over two months of fierce winter warfare cause Hitler to be handed his first major defeat.

It is a battle not well known outside of Norway, and France. After Hitler attacked (neutral) Norway on 9 April, 1940, the Allied Forces carried out several operations; the Royal Navy destroyed the German invasion force at Narvik and a large part of the German fleet.

The 5th Demi-Brigade of Chasseurs Alpins landed in the Narvik sector and fought under appalling conditions under the orders of General Bethouart (photo below).

On the 28th May, his men took Narvik, pushing back the German battalions of General Dietl to the border, a feat which would earn him promotion to the dignity of Commander of the Légion d'honneur.

Not many tartes visible in the film, but nonetheless, a film well worth watching!

 

[Fern]

 

[Fern]

I love the Spanish basque traditions:

 

[Daan]

Capturing the Rugged Lives of Patagonia's Gauchos

Some insight in the making of a National Geographic documentary. Enduring harsh winds and weather, encounters with wild bulls, and a lack of electricity, photographer Tomás Munita trekked through Chile's Patagonia. Through his photographs he tells the story of a family that is losing its ancestral land to agritourism.

 

[Daan]

Living in a country with a first openly transgender mayor in the world (1995) and the world's first openly transgender member of parliament (1999), I follow the now daily developments in US (and especially Florida) politics regarding gender and trans- rights with interest and amazement.

Although I fail to understand why someone’s personal orientation and preferences can be polarizing to the level of national (US) politics, I thought it interesting to delve into the subject in relation to berets.

Not surprising, there are many transgender boineros/as, whether from a sense of style and fashion, or as part of their (military) uniform.

By some estimates, the U.S. military is the single-largest employer of transgender people on the planet, with an estimated 15,500 active-duty trans personnel. Trans people are twice as likely than the general population to serve their country, but they had to conceal their gender identity because military policies banned their service. On January 25, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order to reverse the ban, allowing most transgender individuals to serve in the United States military.

Staff Sergeant Byun Hee-soo was the first known transgender soldier in South Korea. She was a tank driver before being discharged from the army in January 2020 after she underwent gender reassignment surgery.
On October 2021, South Korean court ruled that the military discharge was unlawful and cancelled the discharge, but by that time Byun Hee-Soo had died...

Most (Western) militaries have no issues including LGBT individuals. Captain Hannah Graf is an Officer of the British Army. She is a decorated Officer, having deployed to Afghanistan, Kenya and Canada. Hannah was awarded an MBE in the 2019 New Years Honours List, receiving the award from HRH The Duke of Cambridge in June 2019.

The Dutch military became the first to allow LGBT individuals to serve in 1974 and it was also the first to set up an LGBT military support organization. The Royal Netherlands Army embraces a "Do Tell" policy and routinely organizes floats in pride events.

The New Zealand Defence Force has been lauded as a world leader in diversity and for support of the LGBTQI community, and has been ranked as number one for integration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender personnel into the nation's military.

And while LGBTQ Russians were Putin's first target in his war on the West, this Canadian soldier can publicly kiss his partner.

A glimpse into the lives of four soldiers who risk dismissal or demotion to fight for transgender rights in the US armed forces:

 

[Fern]

Living in a country with a first openly transgender mayor in the world (1995) and the world's first openly transgender member of parliament (1999), I follow the now daily developments in US (and especially Florida) politics regarding gender and trans- rights with interest and amazement.

View attachment 525910 View attachment 525909​

Although I fail to understand why someone’s personal orientation and preferences can be polarizing to the level of national (US) politics, I thought it interesting to delve into the subject in relation to berets.

View attachment 525911​

Not surprising, there are many transgender boineros/as, whether from a sense of style and fashion, or as part of their (military) uniform.
View attachment 525912
By some estimates, the U.S. military is the single-largest employer of transgender people on the planet, with an estimated 15,500 active-duty trans personnel. Trans people are twice as likely than the general population to serve their country, but they had to conceal their gender identity because military policies banned their service. On January 25, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order to reverse the ban, allowing most transgender individuals to serve in the United States military.
View attachment 525913
Staff Sergeant Byun Hee-soo was the first known transgender soldier in South Korea. She was a tank driver before being discharged from the army in January 2020 after she underwent gender reassignment surgery.
On October 2021, South Korean court ruled that the military discharge was unlawful and cancelled the discharge, but by that time Byun Hee-Soo had died...
View attachment 525914
Most (Western) militaries have no issues including LGBT individuals. Captain Hannah Graf is an Officer of the British Army. She is a decorated Officer, having deployed to Afghanistan, Kenya and Canada. Hannah was awarded an MBE in the 2019 New Years Honours List, receiving the award from HRH The Duke of Cambridge in June 2019.
View attachment 525915
The Dutch military became the first to allow LGBT individuals to serve in 1974 and it was also the first to set up an LGBT military support organization. The Royal Netherlands Army embraces a "Do Tell" policy and routinely organizes floats in pride events.
View attachment 525916
The New Zealand Defence Force has been lauded as a world leader in diversity and for support of the LGBTQI community, and has been ranked as number one for integration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender personnel into the nation's military.
View attachment 525917
And while LGBTQ Russians were Putin's first target in his war on the West, this Canadian soldier can publicly kiss his partner.
View attachment 525918
A glimpse into the lives of four soldiers who risk dismissal or demotion to fight for transgender rights in the US armed forces:

Brilliant how you wove this topic with berets, @Daan — cool post. And very thoughtful, too.
Thank you ️‍

 

[Daan]

Long before black became the standard colour of Basque berets, the Béarnaise shepherds in the High Pyrenees already wore their naturally brown berets.

When on to the summer pastures in the high mountains for many months at a time, the shepherds kept themselves busy with knitting, making use of the wool shed by their flocks, not worried by a need for dyeing into fashionable colours.

In the Béarnais Vallée d’Ossau, brown is still the colour of choice.

Closest to these original berets, are the Bérets Merino d'Arles. Le Béret Français makes these in their standard Classique model and in the more luxurious Cabillou Rouge model.
The limited edition by Boneteria Aotearoa is still available in very small numbers in 10 and 11p.

August 2022, France's oldest beret manufacturer Laulhère (since 1840), caused an outcry amongst the people of Béarn, when they announced to stop the regular production of brown berets - Laulhère will only manufacture them "on special order in batches of sufficient quantity”.
It made the local media big time. In the Ossau valley, it is traditionally worn by the population during village festivals, such as in Laruns, Béost and Bielle.

Luckily, boineros are not dependent on Laulhère; the very best French made berets are the Auloronesa and Orthesa Universels and both are available in a beautiful brown.
By the same manufacturer, there are also a small number of Limited Editions Pacifique available, in brown and russet.

This week on Special: browns, for winter and summer!
Five models by Boinas Elósegui in Clásica and Super Lujo quality...

...and for those suffering from the northern hemisphere heat, two models that make for great summer wear at a massive price reduction (as long as stock lasts).