New Member

[Kaleponi Craig]

Hello everyone, I've been following threads here for several months and finally decided to plunge in. I'm a big fedora fan, although my collection is small. A couple of Indy lids and a really nice Panama from Paul's in San Francisco. But I've just discovered the wonderful Art Fawcett and this week got a new Panama from him (via Panama Bob). What a great recourse!!!! The hat I'm getting from Art is less than HALF of what it would cost through most other hatters. And the quality if amazing. It was fantastic going up in Art's hat sanctuary and seeing what he does. I've got a great classic fedora style coming with a really beautiful blue ribbon, a vintage ribbon, in fact. I'll post a pic once I get it. I can't say enough about Art and his work, but those of you here know what I"m talking about.

Regards, Kaleponi Craig

 

[ObscureRefMan]

Welcome KC! Please, post pics as soon as you can!

 

[MK]

.

Be careful. This joint is addictive.

Welcome and enjoy!

 

[jamespowers]

Welcome Kaleponi,

Glad you found Art in your meanderings. Here are a few pictures of my panama with a blue ribbon---sort of.

Regards,

Makaweli J

 

[ITG]

Wow that is a gorgeous ribbon...is that new stock or vintage ribbon? I've not seen anything like that before.

 

[jamespowers]

Yep the ribbon is NOS. Art has a good selection so I decided to make the best of it.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Kaleponi Craig]

Gorgeous hat, James. My hat by Art is essentially the same, with a beautiful dark blue vintage ribbon. I'll try to get pics tomorrow.

Regards, Kaleponi Craig

 

[Art Fawcett]

HI Holly,
I think JP lost your meaning in the question. Yes, it is vintage ribbon. I have it in several colors & is a kick to work with.

 

[Andykev]

I thought the same!

Art made the same hat for me, but I am too conservative for that style. I almost, almost.....did it. I took James hat out of the box twice to see the style. I even pulled the ribbon out of the drawer........but cluck cluck cluck.

Ya CHICKEN. I went with the pur-ple, blue.

Pics coming. This past week was HELL!

 

[jamespowers]

Art made the same hat for me, but I am too conservative for that style. I almost, almost.....did it. I took James hat out of the box twice to see the style. I even pulled the ribbon out of the drawer........but cluck cluck cluck.

Ya CHICKEN. I went with the pur-ple, blue.

Aw, Come on. Be brave. I was planning to do that for weeks before Art got the bodies in. That blue ribbon is unique.
Too Conservative? Is there a such thing? Actually I got the whole idea for the ribbon treatments from vintage hats with the same two tone color schemes. They were doing it when conservative was the rule.
So did you get a purple bow to go with the purple, blue ribbon?
I think I might have confused you ITG. The ribbon was New Old Stock. Meaning vintage in the parlayance I guess.

Regards to all,

J

 

[SHARPETOYS]

VERY Very VERY NIce!!

Welcome Kaleponi,

Glad you found Art in your meanderings. Here are a few pictures of my panama with a blue ribbon---sort of.

Regards,

Makaweli J

The hat is a beauty. Looks like a 4.5 inch crown and close to a 3 inch brim.
I love Art's ribbon! All my hats he has made for me or the Monteristi Panama hats he has blocked all have real Vintage ribbon.

Even the hats others have made for me I sent the hat to him to put on the old ribbon.

One Master Hatter I use either gets the Art's Vintage Ribbon for me or we wait till Art finds that perfect ribbon. I let Art choose my ribbon color on my Panama's and fur felts since he has a eye for whats just right for that hat.

He is like a Artist, and i've found you get his best work when you just let him create.

Only Optimo Hat Co has Vintage ribbon like Art does. The rest use reproduction ribbon . New ribbon made to look old and then they call it Vintage ribbon. "Wrong"!! Just more hype or ignorance.

I know you will enjoy your hat for many years to come. You choose a great team in the business. That is a PanamaBob hat body right?

 

[ITG]

That's okay, James...Art set me straight.

 

[jamespowers]

I know you will enjoy your hat for many years to come. You choose a great team in the business. That is a PanamaBob hat body right?

Yep, the body was from PanamaBob. I expect it to be around agood long time.
My friend, who wears some lousy Shantung cowboy hat, was looking it over yesterday. I had to explain to him the difference. He was not wearing it yesterday though because I think he surely understands that you do not wear one of those in the rain.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Renderking Fisk]

What's so special about the Vintage Ribbon compaired to Ribbon made today? I know that some ribbon that's made today is a synthetic... but what else?

 

[jamespowers]

What's so special about the Vintage Ribbon compaired to Ribbon made today? I know that some ribbon that's made today is a synthetic... but what else?

Vintage ribbon was specifically made for the millinery trade. The ribbon has properties that modern ribbon does not due to the fibers it is made of. Modern ribbon acts really strange when you start to heat it. It curls in all kinds of ways and gets shiny when you pass an iron over it. It also stretches and will not snap back when it cools. In general it just is not as workable as vintage ribbon.
I am sure the hatters here can elaborate better than I can. I just watch and listen to the complaints.

Regards to all,

J

P.S. I forgot to mention the best part---they had much cooler patterns on ribbons then.

 

[scotrace]

Oh MAN!

Just when I think I've made up my mind... you guys have me all over the map with this! I gotta have that hat!!! That's amazing. Elegant, and it says "languish in the summer sun with a good cigar." Perfect!