Optimo Treatment to my Brown Borsalino

[MK]

I sent my favorite lid to the fellas at Optimo to get a few things done.

1) Clean and reattach the liner.

2) Put that great Indy ribbon on it.

Also I wanted them to see this hat. I have yet to see a crown or brim come out of Optimo that looks like mine and wanted to know if they can do that.

Anyway....the hat looks great. I love the ribbon and the liner is attached properly. This hat is perfect. I am done with it.

There is nothing left to do with it but wear it. :fedora:

 

[Andykev]

Treatment

Did they clean the entire hat or just the liner? They cleaned my vintage Cavanagh and replaced the ribbon. It came back looking new, with a better look to the felt. Guess it looks better without 40 years of vintage dirt on it! They are a full service shop.....

 

[Renderking Fisk]

Could they reblock my Reg Akubra while keeping the crown hight the same and leave the ribbon as is?

 

[MK]

I asked for the felt to not be changed in any way. Kevin wanted to flange the brim, but I didn't want to take a chance.

Why mess with perfection?

At some point I will post some pics. You guys should get a chance to see the best Indy hat yet.

 

[Kentucky Blues]

Originally posted by MK
You guys should get a chance to see the best Indy hat yet.

Yeah, Ren, lets see some better pics of your lid

 

[Renderking Fisk]

My heads been spinning all weekend with this concept. Could I get one or both of my old Stetsons reblocked by Optimo and darker ribbons put on them?

Also, I want the ultimate block on my Akubra. It's just FINE the way it is but I want it to be THE BEST.

 

[The_Edge]

Originally posted by Renderking Fisk
Could they reblock my Reg Akubra while keeping the crown hight the same and leave the ribbon as is?

Fisk,

In a word, yes. Last Christmas I received a Federation Deluxe from my wife. Not content with the crown shape I sent it to Optimo for a re-block with instructions to keep the original lining, sweat band and ribbon. What I received back was a Fed-dlx with all the stock accessories but with a much less tapered crown but it wasn't stove pipe straight. I wasn't entirely pleased with their job at first. However, after some wear the crown actually became, and is, completely untapered. Total cost: $50. I just included a check in the box with my hat and two weeks later I had my hat back.

The other thing I wasn't happy with was their attachment of the ribbon. It was put on very loose and not as robust as what Akubra does. I ended up replacing the entire stock ribbon with a black one so I didn't bother them about it.

I would definitely use Optimo for any future cleaning and blocking needs. Their prices are actually very low for the service. I have a local hatter that I went to at first and he wanted $75 and up. My Fed-dlx is still going strong with no signs of taper. My regular Federation may end up heading off to Optimo sometime with in the next six months for a refurbish.