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List of Custom, made-to-order, Fur Felt Fedora hatmakers and hatters

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A-List Customer
Messages
443
Location
TORONTO, CANADA
"Has anyone purchased a Leon Drexler hat? I am curious as to what their hatboxes look like (as well as general opinions about him)."
Leacock.


Stephen Temkin (Leon Drexler Co) uses a white, heavy corrugated cardboard stock for the hat box; it measuring

14.5" square, 7.5" in height, the similar of gauge insert, being topped by a foam ring.

A first rate and professional individual with a first rate and on time (four to six weeks) product,

it being a slight increase in cost against the formerly "vaunted Italian brand", aka Bosalino.

The above, having been written, do search the Will Boehlke site:

http://www.asuitablewardrobe.net/

as he is a returning customer of this true (Toronto) hatter, the Drexler Co not being just a retailer of hats, as are others.

(Yes, I am also a Drexler Co customer.)


Regards,
J T
 
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L

Leacock

Familiar Face
Messages
97
Location
Dominion of Canada
Thank you for all of this information, I own a few hats but am preparing to take the plunge and purchase my first expensive beaver felt hat so I am trying to learn all I can!

Can anyone tell me about Tumwater? http://www.tumwaterhat.com/pages/about.html & also Falcon Park http://www.falconparkhattery.com/Pricing.html or Northwest hats http://www.northwesthats.com/Home.htmltheir base prices are about half what I am seeing with other beaver felt fedora makers that I am considering (such as Drexler or Black Sheep), has anyone dealt with them before? Does anyone have any further advice for someone just getting into this?
 
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bowlerman

bowlerman

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,292
Location
South Dakota
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RBH

RBH

Bartender
Messages
15,236
Location
Thin Ribbon Ranch-Crowley's Ridge Arkansas
bowlerman said:
Hi Leacock, there are threads with ample reviews and photographic examples for each of these hatters. I own 3 Falcon Parks and 1 Tumwater. I love them all.

Edit: I can't find a thread dedicated to Mike at Northwest Hats, but here are the other two you've cited:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?32722-tonyb-hatter-and-a-gentleman

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?48781-Falcon-Park-Hattery
Click to expand...


Here you go Jeff...

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?66155-Northwest-Hats-Eugene-Ore
 
RJR

RJR

Messages
10,620
Location
Iowa
I've done several things with Mike;new&R&R.He does a great job at reasonable prices.
 
Cheviot

Cheviot

New in Town
Messages
36
Location
Philadelphia, PA
Recommendations for custom hat makers ?

I'm in the market for a new fedora, and following the discussion I had when I bought my last off-the-shelf hat, I'm looking to get this one custom made.

Any recommendations?
 
jlee562

jlee562

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,051
Location
San Francisco, CA
Depends on what you're looking for really, but let me give you my opinions on the custom hatters I've purchased from (in no particular order).

John Penman/Penman Hats. John made my first custom lid. He exemplifies the word craftsman. Although he is well known as a maker of Indiana Jones hats, he is well versed in many styles, and every hat is 100% handmade.

Art Fawcett/Vintage Silhouettes: Art is well known and well loved on the lounge with good reason. He offers some finish options that other hatters do not, as well as his superb lightweight felt. He is also known for his unique ribbon work. Art has a knack for being able to reproduce nearly any hat based on old photos.

Bob Jesse/Black Sheep Hatworks: Bob has a unique sense of style, which results in some amazing lids. He can also hand dye both felt and ribbons for unique, one off colors. He also has nice accouterments like ostrich leather sweats, custom liners, and also does westerns.

Optimo hats: top shelf hats at a top shelf price. Top quality European felt in exclusive colors. Although their website features a lot of the more tapered crowns that have become something of a signature for them, they have a wide selection of blocks.

I have not purchased from, but have admired all the same, hats from: Tumwater, Falcon Park, Paul's Hat Works, Leon Drexler, and I'm sure i have forgetten a few.
 
Rabbit

Rabbit

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,561
Location
Germany
I second Jared's descriptions. There's also Northwest Hats, Eugene, Ore.. He's rather new to the world of custom hatters and I've heard only the best about him.

See the Links To Important Hat Forum Threads thread for a list of most of the custom hatters.
Matt Deckard's hat project is out of date, I think, and Mike of Northwest hats isn't on that list yet.


I wonder if we could use a new sticky thread, open to everyone, introducing the custom hatters and linking to their threads, together with a short overview of their styles, and a set of photos of finished hats?

I mean, we get these requests about getting started in the custom hatters world quite often, don't we?

I'd be happy to try to do a compilation. Admittedly I have dealt with only one of the custom hatters, but I feel unbiased enough to start a thread with those custom hatters who make dress hats and who are already represented in some thread or other here on the Lounge. I'd take a few pictures of finished hats from there.
 
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Big J

Big J

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,961
Location
Japan
I can highly recommend John Penman.
I have two of his fedoras, and they are very lovely. The quality of the workmanship is top-notch.
 
T Jones

T Jones

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,610
Location
Central Ohio
Lotsahats said:
I'd say Bob at Black Sheep, then Art.

A
Click to expand...

+1 I have to agree. Bob at Black Sheep impresses me far more than A F does. Another up and coming hatter to keep an eye on is one of our very own Loungers, John Galt. His talents have advanced very rapidly. His work is definitely competitive with the pros.
 
carranty

carranty

One of the Regulars
Messages
108
Location
England
Rabbit said:
I wonder if we could use a new sticky thread, open to everyone, introducing the custom hatters and linking to their threads, together with a short overview of their styles, and a set of photos of finished hats?
Click to expand...

Could be useful for first time buyers.

To the OP, I really don't think you'll regret whomever you choose to go with. All the hatters JLee mentioned have many many posts of positive feedback here on the lounge. I can't recall any unhappy customers from any of them!

That said, for me personally, one of the main reasons I buy a custom hat is so it will be tailored to fit my (rather strangely shaped noggin), so you may want to inquire as to which hatmakers use a conformer (a device used to measure the shape of your head) before you buy.
 
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facade

facade

A-List Customer
Messages
315
Location
Conklin, NY
I reccomend you chose one you can actually visit in person, if at all possible. Anyone mentioned above can make a swell hat, an in person fitting goes along way to ensure a great fit.
 
gtdean48

gtdean48

Messages
10,524
Location
DnD Ranch, Cherokee County, GA
New fedora = Art Fawcett, Vintage Silhouettes
Great selection of felt qualities & colors, incredible ribbon work, unsurpassed pouncing = none better.
I have custom hats or customization work done by 7 different custom hatters.
For your first one, get a Work of Art...
 
carranty

carranty

One of the Regulars
Messages
108
Location
England
facade said:
I reccomend you chose one you can actually visit in person, if at all possible. Anyone mentioned above can make a swell hat, an in person fitting goes along way to ensure a great fit.
Click to expand...

+1

Absolutely! I live in the UK and unfortunately we don't have any custom hatters here (that I know of) so this didn't even occur to me :eek:.
 
besdor

besdor

Vendor/Sponsor
Messages
1,727
Location
up north
Ive seen hats from a few of the custom hat makers out there and for the money , Art Fawcett does a great job. He charges just slightly more than a standard Borsalino and you are getting a fantastic hat.
 
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