Anyone know anything about this hatmaker Daquino?

My first hat from D'aquino arrived today. So here are my impressions:
Ordered the hat on November 6th.
Received it on December 7th.
Very acceptable.

Ordered 15-16 cm open crown (5.9" +).
Received just over 6"
Perfect

Ordered brim of 2.75" (7.0 cm)
Received 2.5"
Disappointed as I was emphatic on the brim width.

Ordered "as straight sided as possible with little to no taper."
Received: very minimal taper.
Very acceptable

Ordered a size 62 as I'm normally a 7 5/8 (61) long oval.
Received: it fits true to size and might require just a bit of reducing tape to be optimal.




All said, it is a nice hat and well with the price. This is the 100% rabbit fur felt and it was $118.24 including shipping. The detail work is unremarkable at best, but not so bad that it bothers me. The sweat is leather, but otherwise not impressive.

The felt is very reminiscent of Akubra and on the stiff cardboard feeling end of the spectrum. The "hand" is better and overall I think it's a decent hat.

Issues: you really don't know what color you're going to get. The shop doesn't have their felt colors set out so the difference between light grey and tan (this hat), and mid grey are left to your imagination. You can ask and they will send you photos of hats if they have them available.

Which segues into this: don't expect immediate responses to your emails. A week was about my average wait.

All told, my only real disappointment was with the brim width. I suppose I could send it back, but I like it enough as-is to keep it for the price I paid.

I'll crease it and post those photos as soon as a Stetson I'm waiting on arrives so I can do some compare and contrast with this hat, a Stetson Premier Stratoliner, and an Akubra Campdraft. (Three inexpensive open crown hats).

I'm posting this exact same info in the post new hats here thread so please excuse the redundancy.




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deadlyhandsome said:

My first hat from D'aquino arrived today. So here are my impressions:
Ordered the hat on November 6th.
Received it on December 7th.
Very acceptable.

Ordered 15-16 cm open crown (5.9" +).
Received just over 6"
Perfect

Ordered brim of 2.75" (7.0 cm)
Received 2.5"
Disappointed as I was emphatic on the brim width.

Ordered "as straight sided as possible with little to no taper."
Received: very minimal taper.
Very acceptable

Ordered a size 62 as I'm normally a 7 5/8 (61) long oval.
Received: it fits true to size and might require just a bit of reducing tape to be optimal.

All said, it is a nice hat and well with the price. This is the 100% rabbit fur felt and it was $118.24 including shipping. The detail work is unremarkable at best, but not so bad that it bothers me. The sweat is leather, but otherwise not impressive.

The felt is very reminiscent of Akubra and on the stiff cardboard feeling end of the spectrum. The "hand" is better and overall I think it's a decent hat.

Issues: you really don't know what color you're going to get. The shop doesn't have their felt colors set out so the difference between light grey and tan (this hat), and mid grey are left to your imagination. You can ask and they will send you photos of hats if they have them available.

Which segues into this: don't expect immediate responses to your emails. A week was about my average wait.

All told, my only real disappointment was with the brim width. I suppose I could send it back, but I like it enough as-is to keep it for the price I paid.

I'll crease it and post those photos as soon as a Stetson I'm waiting on arrives so I can do some compare and contrast with this hat, a Stetson Premier Stratoliner, and an Akubra Campdraft. (Three inexpensive open crown hats).

I'm posting this exact same info in the post new hats here thread so please excuse the redundancy.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Great review DH. I've been thinking about a bowler in brown/tan on their site. Now I wonder how they will do with a stiff felt. Sounds like this hat is half way there. Interested in seeing this bad boy creased. Diamond?

Redfokker said:

Great review DH. I've been thinking about a bowler in brown/tan on their site. Now I wonder how they will do with a stiff felt. Sounds like this hat is half way there. Interested in seeing this bad boy creased. Diamond?

Click to expand...

Thanks Red.
Diamonds are my most common, but I'll see what the hat wants.

deadlyhandsome said:

My first hat from D'aquino arrived today. So here are my impressions:
Ordered the hat on November 6th.
Received it on December 7th.
Very acceptable.

Ordered 15-16 cm open crown (5.9" +).
Received just over 6"
Perfect

Ordered brim of 2.75" (7.0 cm)
Received 2.5"
Disappointed as I was emphatic on the brim width.

Ordered "as straight sided as possible with little to no taper."
Received: very minimal taper.
Very acceptable

Ordered a size 62 as I'm normally a 7 5/8 (61) long oval.
Received: it fits true to size and might require just a bit of reducing tape to be optimal.

All said, it is a nice hat and well with the price. This is the 100% rabbit fur felt and it was $118.24 including shipping. The detail work is unremarkable at best, but not so bad that it bothers me. The sweat is leather, but otherwise not impressive.
The felt is very reminiscent of Akubra and on the stiff cardboard feeling end of the spectrum. The "hand" is better and overall I think it's a decent hat.
Issues: you really don't know what color you're going to get. The shop doesn't have their felt colors set out so the difference between light grey and tan (this hat), and mid grey are left to your imagination. You can ask and they will send you photos of hats if they have them available.
Which segues into this: don't expect immediate responses to your emails. A week was about my average wait.
All told, my only real disappointment was with the brim width. I suppose I could send it back, but I like it enough as-is to keep it for the price I paid.
I'll crease it and post those photos as soon as a Stetson I'm waiting on arrives so I can do some compare and contrast with this hat, a Stetson Premier Stratoliner, and an Akubra Campdraft. (Three inexpensive open crown hats).
I'm posting this exact same info in the post new hats here thread so please excuse the redundancy.

Click to expand...

DH; Thanks for the review. It sounds like the hat is a good value for the money. All that is needed is a crease and some head time. I will watch the wearing thread over the coming months and see how it stacks up and is worn. Congrats on the new hat day sir. Eric -

Redfokker said:

Great review DH. I've been thinking about a bowler in brown/tan on their site. Now I wonder how they will do with a stiff felt. Sounds like this hat is half way there. Interested in seeing this bad boy creased. Diamond?

Click to expand...

Red,
I have a Tan Bowler from them at home. Very pleased with the result vs cost. I'll try to get a pic for you later.
Joe

Mm25 said:

Red,
I have a Tan Bowler from them at home. Very pleased with the result vs cost. I'll try to get a pic for you later.
Joe

Click to expand...

Thanks, a different color in a derby is one of my goals. Something that looks pre-1900 (1870s) with a pronounced brim curl is what I'm looking for.

deadlyhandsome said:

My first hat from D'aquino arrived today. So here are my impressions:
Ordered the hat on November 6th.
Received it on December 7th.
Very acceptable.

Ordered 15-16 cm open crown (5.9" +).
Received just over 6"
Perfect

Ordered brim of 2.75" (7.0 cm)
Received 2.5"
Disappointed as I was emphatic on the brim width.

Ordered "as straight sided as possible with little to no taper."
Received: very minimal taper.
Very acceptable

Ordered a size 62 as I'm normally a 7 5/8 (61) long oval.
Received: it fits true to size and might require just a bit of reducing tape to be optimal.

All said, it is a nice hat and well with the price. This is the 100% rabbit fur felt and it was $118.24 including shipping. The detail work is unremarkable at best, but not so bad that it bothers me. The sweat is leather, but otherwise not impressive.

The felt is very reminiscent of Akubra and on the stiff cardboard feeling end of the spectrum. The "hand" is better and overall I think it's a decent hat.

Issues: you really don't know what color you're going to get. The shop doesn't have their felt colors set out so the difference between light grey and tan (this hat), and mid grey are left to your imagination. You can ask and they will send you photos of hats if they have them available.

Which segues into this: don't expect immediate responses to your emails. A week was about my average wait.

All told, my only real disappointment was with the brim width. I suppose I could send it back, but I like it enough as-is to keep it for the price I paid.

I'll crease it and post those photos as soon as a Stetson I'm waiting on arrives so I can do some compare and contrast with this hat, a Stetson Premier Stratoliner, and an Akubra Campdraft. (Three inexpensive open crown hats).

I'm posting this exact same info in the post new hats here thread so please excuse the redundancy.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Thank you for the report. I had unsatisfactory dealings with three of the European hat makers, Daquino, Papa in Greece and Hornskov. They all replied to my initial inquiry but my second email with more detailed questions/request was not answered. I took it to mean they were NOT interested in dealing in anything outside the confines of their standard offerings. I think I will stick to our NA hatters for custom hats and Akubra for my knockabouts.

belfastboy said:

Thank you for the report. I had unsatisfactory dealings with three of the European hat makers, Daquino, Papa in Greece and Hornskov. They all replied to my initial inquiry but my second email with more detailed questions/request was not answered. I took it to mean they were NOT interested in dealing in anything outside the confines of their standard offerings. I think I will stick to our NA hatters for custom hats and Akubra for my knockabouts.

Click to expand...

From my very limited experiences, I think D'aquino allows to choose felt color, binding and ribbon color, and maybe a few other details, but it's not a true custom. For D'aquino, if you go into it not expecting a fine custom hat I think you'll be alright. It is a serviceable product at a fair price. If you think your going to get a Gannon, VS, Northwest, etc., for half the price you're bound to be disappointed. Just my opinion based on a sample size of one.

First wear with a three minute dry crease:




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deadlyhandsome said:

First wear with a three minute dry crease:

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Click to expand...

That's the nicest looking D'Aquino I've seen.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

Frunobulax said:

That's the nicest looking D'Aquino I've seen.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

Click to expand...

Thanks, I'd say the felt is on par or slightly nicer than the Premier Stratoliner we've been discussing. The 6+ inch open crown gives lots of options.

Short Balding Guy said:

DH; Thanks for the review. It sounds like the hat is a good value for the money. All that is needed is a crease and some head time. I will watch the wearing thread over the coming months and see how it stacks up and is worn. Congrats on the new hat day sir. Eric -

Click to expand...

Thank you Eric. Your hats are the driving force behind me getting in line with Gannon. Your photos, particularly the Gannon family tree, were just what I needed to chose the felt colors.
Brent

deadlyhandsome said:

Thanks, I'd say the felt is on par or slightly nicer than the Premier Stratoliner we've been discussing. The 6+ inch open crown gives lots of options.

Click to expand...

She uses FEPSA felts, so she's starting off with good stuff. She was never able to get my crowns quite that straight.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

deadlyhandsome said:

My first hat from D'aquino arrived today. So here are my impressions:
Ordered the hat on November 6th.
Received it on December 7th.
Very acceptable.

Ordered 15-16 cm open crown (5.9" +).
Received just over 6"
Perfect

Ordered brim of 2.75" (7.0 cm)
Received 2.5"
Disappointed as I was emphatic on the brim width.

Ordered "as straight sided as possible with little to no taper."
Received: very minimal taper.
Very acceptable

Ordered a size 62 as I'm normally a 7 5/8 (61) long oval.
Received: it fits true to size and might require just a bit of reducing tape to be optimal.

All said, it is a nice hat and well with the price. This is the 100% rabbit fur felt and it was $118.24 including shipping. The detail work is unremarkable at best, but not so bad that it bothers me. The sweat is leather, but otherwise not impressive.

The felt is very reminiscent of Akubra and on the stiff cardboard feeling end of the spectrum. The "hand" is better and overall I think it's a decent hat.

Issues: you really don't know what color you're going to get. The shop doesn't have their felt colors set out so the difference between light grey and tan (this hat), and mid grey are left to your imagination. You can ask and they will send you photos of hats if they have them available.

Which segues into this: don't expect immediate responses to your emails. A week was about my average wait.

All told, my only real disappointment was with the brim width. I suppose I could send it back, but I like it enough as-is to keep it for the price I paid.

I'll crease it and post those photos as soon as a Stetson I'm waiting on arrives so I can do some compare and contrast with this hat, a Stetson Premier Stratoliner, and an Akubra Campdraft. (Three inexpensive open crown hats).

I'm posting this exact same info in the post new hats here thread so please excuse the redundancy.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Looks fantastic. I actually never had horrible communication issues with Luisa -- she was always very responsive. If I didn't hear back from her within 24 hours, I would chalk it up to the time difference and send her a bump email and she would usually respond to that. That being said, I think her shop might be getting more business than they have in the past due to decently good word of mouth on the Lounge.

Also, she's always hit the mark with my brim width requests. I'm sorry to see she was a whole 1/4" off with yours. Still, the proportions look really nice. And her hatters must be using new blocks. The open crown you've got there is nice and straight on the sides... D'Aquino's inability to deliver straight crowns was a major deterrent to many Loungers.

All said, I'd say you got a pretty good deal there.

belfastboy said:

Thank you for the report. I had unsatisfactory dealings with three of the European hat makers, Daquino, Papa in Greece and Hornskov. They all replied to my initial inquiry but my second email with more detailed questions/request was not answered. I took it to mean they were NOT interested in dealing in anything outside the confines of their standard offerings. I think I will stick to our NA hatters for custom hats and Akubra for my knockabouts.

Click to expand...

Bummer about Hornskov... I'm gonna give them a try sometime in the future. I'll specifically ask for that matchstick =)

As for D'Aquino -- they've never seemed resistant to customization with my requests. I've given crown heights, brim widths, felt colors, ribbon colors, flange angles, and even pencil curl heights and Luisa was always chipper about the requests. I think their communication issues most likely stem from an overly stuffed queue.

blueAZNmonkey said:

Looks fantastic. I actually never had horrible communication issues with Luisa -- she was always very responsive. If I didn't hear back from her within 24 hours, I would chalk it up to the time difference and send her a bump email and she would usually respond to that. That being said, I think her shop might be getting more business than they have in the past due to decently good word of mouth on the Lounge.

Also, she's always hit the mark with my brim width requests. I'm sorry to see she was a whole 1/4" off with yours. Still, the proportions look really nice. And her hatters must be using new blocks. The open crown you've got there is nice and straight on the sides... D'Aquino's inability to deliver straight crowns was a major deterrent to many Loungers.

All said, I'd say you got a pretty good deal there.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I agree that there is a lot to like and I'm definitely keeping the hat. The brim width was a bit disappointing, but not a deal breaker.

The communication issues were minimal and overall I was pleased. A few days to reply is not that uncommon. I've waited much longer for VS to reply to my emails. I've already sent Luisa the specs for another hat.

As I said at the start, I originally wanted to order two hats and she told me to hold off on the second until I received the first and liked the build and the fit. That says a lot about her business philosophy.

I'm happy to give her my endorsement and my business.

blueAZNmonkey said:

Bummer about Hornskov... I'm gonna give them a try sometime in the future. I'll specifically ask for that matchstick =)

As for D'Aquino -- they've never seemed resistant to customization with my requests. I've given crown heights, brim widths, felt colors, ribbon colors, flange angles, and even pencil curl heights and Luisa was always chipper about the requests. I think their communication issues most likely stem from an overly stuffed queue.

Click to expand...

Hornskov answered my first inquiry but did not get back to me with a price for the shipping to Canada. I know from dealing with Esther it can be a steep price. Hornskov does offer a reasonable price on his off the rack hats. But they are under his $$ threshold for free shipping. Maybe one day if I have the inspiration I will pick up the thread and try Daquino one more time.

deadlyhandsome said:

Thanks Red.
Diamonds are my most common, but I'll see what the hat wants.

Click to expand...

No matter what, for the price, you have a winner!

deadlyhandsome said:

Thanks. I agree that there is a lot to like and I'm definitely keeping the hat. The brim width was a bit disappointing, but not a deal breaker.

The communication issues were minimal and overall I was pleased. A few days to reply is not that uncommon. I've waited much longer for VS to reply to my emails. I've already sent Luisa the specs for another hat.

As I said at the start, I originally wanted to order two hats and she told me to hold off on the second until I received the first and liked the build and the fit. That says a lot about her business philosophy.

I'm happy to give her my endorsement and my business.

Click to expand...

Will they make a hat from Beaver felt body?

LuvMyMan said:

Will they make a hat from Beaver felt body?

Click to expand...

When I sent my first email to them they gave me a price for a beaver felt and it was quite reasonable.