The Story of the Velour

[rlk]

from The American Hatter Vol. 49 1920

 

[Tomasso]

What's the difference between velour and velvet ?

 

[rlk]

What's the difference between velour and velvet ?

Velvet is made from woven fabric rather than fur.

 

[Tomasso]

Velvet is made from woven fabric rather than fur.

Thanks.

 

[alanfgag]

Very interesting...

I can think of some suede finish and long fiber furry felts, but what have we seen of American-made velours?

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Love the velour hats but hard to find in 7 3/8 59cm.

 

[Rodkins]

Is this a velour?

 

[Sam Craig]

Remember in the 60s when they made the velour slip over shirts?
They were sort of like star trek shirts.
When I was in late grade school I got a burgandy one and a green one for Christmas one year and my mom about had to use physical violence to get me to stop wearing them long enough for her to wash them.

They were not felt, of course, but they were beautiful.
Rather hot, however, as I recall.

Sam

 

[mayserwegener]

That article is very American biased. The finest Austrian Velour was never matched (US, England, Italy, ect). The center was in Austria but not in Vienna. It was Neutitschein, Austria (now Novy Jicin, Czech Republic). Also I would be surprised if the Austrian Velour companies were sourcing French hare.

 

[Sam Craig]

Mayser ....

What is their status today?
Are these still available, and is there any we can order from over here?

What sort of prices?

Thanks for the input,
Sam

 

[mayserwegener]

Is this a velour?

Yes it's a Velour but not what would be considered an Austrian Velour of the time period of the article. An Austrian Velour (not a Tyrol style) would look more like this JHS Velour.

 

[mayserwegener]

Mayser ....

What is their status today?
Are these still available, and is there any we can order from over here?

What sort of prices?

Thanks for the input,
Sam

TONAK (was J. Hückel´s Söhne up to 1945) is still making something similar to Austrian Velour but nothing like the felt that is posted above. I have some TONAK felt samples (I visited the factory last April) so I can pm you some photos.

 

[Rodkins]

Yes it's a Velour but not what would be considered an Austrian Velour of the time period of the article. An Austrian Velour (not a Tyrol style) would look more like this JHS Velour.

Thanks, Mayser. The one in my picture was made in Italy and looks to be pretty old, but like you say, nothing like the one posted in your picture. I'm not very fond of mine and have tried to sell it in the past but really didn't find any interest in it - and so it sits...

 

[alanfgag]

We have great examples (thanks to Steve) of pre WWII European velours, but have we seen the American counterparts referred to in this article?

 

[mayserwegener]

The problem is it is hard to know what was sourced. The Austrian companies definitely supplied bodies to American hat companies. During war time when this article was written the Austrian Velour source dried up. Also the prices went through the roof due to war taxes and that continued into the 1920s.

Also the idea that all Austrian Velour was always thick is a misconception. I have a JHS Sigma Foulard Velour that is some what light weight but still has the long hair slick appearance.

 

[mayserwegener]

Thanks, Mayser. The one in my picture was made in Italy and looks to be pretty old, but like you say, nothing like the one posted in your picture. I'm not very fond of mine and have tried to sell it in the past but really didn't find any interest in it - and so it sits...

The Velour finish on your hat is common with Alpine style hats. Your hat is most likely from the 1960s maybe very late 1950s. The hat I posted is from the 1930s. In US newspaper ads you see Austrian Velour city style hats becoming popular around 1910 and they remain so into the 1930s.

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Steve you have the sweetist collection of veloure hats. Your killing me.

 

[mayserwegener]

Thanks! By the way my avatar photo is from JHS early 1900s.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

The finest Austrian Velour was never matched (US, England, Italy, ect).

That's true. In fact, until the First World War really put a dent on imports from the so-called 'Huns', America's most expensive "soft" hats were Austrian velours (and Montecristi panamas).


It's interesting that the magazine article didn't mention seal velour. I believe it was the most expensive kind available.


The only Americans who regularly wear velour fedoras today are Hasidic Jewish men.

 

[LoveMyHats2]

I think someone has a Velour hat on the Bay right now???