Tibetan/nomad fedoras

[davidraphael]

I recently returned from a trip to a remote area of eastern Tibet.

The nomads there wear (very) long-sleeved wrap-around robes. Oddly, they also wear fedoras (both men and women).

Naturally, I bought both hats and robes...

I wonder how fedoras came to be standard headwear of Tibetan nomads? Anyone have any idea?


dR

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[Blackthorn]

I recently returned from a trip to a remote area of eastern Tibet.

The nomads there wear (very) long-sleeved wrap-around robes. Oddly, they also wear fedoras (both men and women).

Naturally, I bought both hats and robes...

I wonder how fedoras came to be standard headwear of Tibetan nomads? Anyone have any idea?


dR

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David, you bought those hats in Tibet??? That's fascinating. Did they make them there, or did they import those hats from Europe/America?

 

[davidraphael]

Yes, I bought these fedoras in Eastern Tibet. And yes, they are made in Tibet/China. The pale tan fedora, for example, has both Tibetan and Chinese text printed inside and a Tibetan logo.

Nomads can't afford imported goods. They can't even afford goods made in the larger Chinese cities.

They cost me about $10US each, which is actually quite expensive there. They also raised the price a bit because I was a westerner. The locals would probably have gotten them a little cheaper.

 

[hatflick1]

This was movie illustrates the various nomad hats worn in Tibet.
And not just fedoras.

http://www.google.com/images?client...&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1280&bih=686

 

[davidraphael]

I found a reference online that mentions the wearing of fedoras in Tibet in 1942.

There was a thriving tailor culture in that region of the world (as there still is in China, especially in cities like Shanghai and Hong Kong).
The fedora might have been a trade item that just kind of stuck. Shanghai itself is almost a museum and in many ways is stuck in the past - many of the art deco buildings (and interiors) built by Europeans in the early decades of the 20th century are still standing.

Maybe I'll post some of my architectural and deco photos taken in Shanghai very soon.

 

[Edward]

Nice looking hats - are they fur or wool?

 

[davidraphael]

I think they're wool. One label says 100% wool, but when you're in China you learn not to trust what you're told or what the product claims to be.

No one can work out what is original and fake anymore. It's all mixed up together. Only obvious errors give the game away. For example, I bought Forrest Gump on DVD when I was in Beijing a few years ago. The blurb on the back claims that it is "Cary Grant's best film!". Another quote is proudly emblazoned on the front: "A bland, flawed movie! - Rolling Stone Magazine"

 

[randooch]

Fask-i-natin'!

Thanks for posting the pictures. Interesting juxtaposition of the fedoras with the robes. Made me think of all the threads about "what should I wear with a fedora . . ."

 

[Yeps]

It reminds me of the look you see up in the Andes. Strange that clothing and hat choice would be so similar up in the world's two highest mountain ranges.

 

[carldelo]

Very cool

I guess it just makes good sense to wear a hat at high altitude, with the low temperature and high UV exposure.

It'd be very interesting to see pictures of the lining/label/sweatbands too.

 

[DanielJones]

Even if they are wool, those hats are some nice looking specimens. And for $10 each how can you go wrong?

Cheers!

Dan

 

[Yeps]

 

[davidraphael]

As requested, here are photos of my Tibetan/Chinese fedora interiors:

The pale tan:

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The greenish/brown:



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[Old Paul]

Gents - a little fftopic: , but fedoras are also popular in Peru and Chile. So perhaps they just make practical hats for high altitude, cold and uv?

I bought a Peruvian (I think) import for about £30 a couple of years ago, before I found the Lounge - reasonable wool felt, but a horrible plasticky sweatband.

 

[cybergentleman]

For such an inexpensive (cheap) item, this hat looks well made. Wonder if stores in Chinatown could import these things. Aside from the crappy looking sweatband, for a few bucks sounds like a safe buy.

 

[davidraphael]

For such an inexpensive (cheap) item, this hat looks well made. Wonder if stores in Chinatown could import these things. Aside from the crappy looking sweatband, for a few bucks sounds like a safe buy.

Not sure about that, but you could ask around. However, I only saw these hats when I was nearer to Tibet - I didn't see any at all during my stay in Shanghai or Beijing.

 

[Blackthorn]

Fascinating, Davidraphael! I'm glad you shared these pictures. I hope to get to Tibet some day, and now I'll know to look for new fedoras there.

 

[daizawaguy]

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A classic!

 

[RobFedoraField]

I think they're wool. One label says 100% wool, but when you're in China you learn not to trust what you're told or what the product claims to be.

No one can work out what is original and fake anymore. It's all mixed up together. Only obvious errors give the game away. For example, I bought Forrest Gump on DVD when I was in Beijing a few years ago. The blurb on the back claims that it is "Cary Grant's best film!". Another quote is proudly emblazoned on the front: "A bland, flawed movie! - Rolling Stone Magazine"

That's Awsome! was the quality of the dvd ok?

 

[RobFedoraField]

another movie..

it wasn't the greatest movie, but the move 2012 had several scenes in the Tibet area and I was surprised about how many fedoras was in the crowd scenes.