Daan
Vendor
- Messages
- 930
- Location
- Wellington, Aotearoa
Peaked berets or béret casquettes were popular during the 1950s through 70s, but have since largely disappeared. When I started The Beret Project, 10 years ago now, it was close to impossible to find a proper Basque beret with peak. I recall I found a Chinese made affair on Ebay that inspired me to look further (and arrange with the known beret manufacturers to get these noble hats back in production).
Seeing what is available now, it is hard to imagine it being so different only 10 years back.
In France, and to a certain extend in the UK and Germany, peaked berets were a popular alternative to berets for a younger generation growing up after the war; the Basque beret was seen as the hat of their fathers, while it was still a time that everyone wore a hat.
Artists like Corneille added to its popularity.
In the same period, foresters, railwaymen and barge skippers in Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Romania adopted the peaked beret en masse. While travelling in the CSSR during the 1980s, I bought a photobook of "happy socialist workers", many donning a peaked beret (but the book has unfortunately disappeared somehow, over the years...). Below two vintage (1950s) French models:
Soon after the start-up of Boneteria Auloronesa, Denis Guédon developed his own béret casquette, based on the 10p Auloronesa Universel. In my opinion this is still the ultimate peaked beret, but unfortunately the significant extra time and handling to produce these, makes them prohibitively expensive and after selling my present stock, these won't be restocked.
Searching for an affordable and quality alternative, TONAK was happy to delve into their catacombs and do a remake of the old FEZCO peaked beret (yes, the same one that all those happy workers wore; 60, 70 years ago!).
I chose for two stunning colours: the Mammoth (known from the Czech Classic and 11.5" models) and the new 'heather midnight-blue'. Only arrived here yesterday, guess what I'm wearing now?
100% wool, universal size and (presently) at only $44.50.
Seeing what is available now, it is hard to imagine it being so different only 10 years back.
In France, and to a certain extend in the UK and Germany, peaked berets were a popular alternative to berets for a younger generation growing up after the war; the Basque beret was seen as the hat of their fathers, while it was still a time that everyone wore a hat.
Artists like Corneille added to its popularity.
In the same period, foresters, railwaymen and barge skippers in Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Romania adopted the peaked beret en masse. While travelling in the CSSR during the 1980s, I bought a photobook of "happy socialist workers", many donning a peaked beret (but the book has unfortunately disappeared somehow, over the years...). Below two vintage (1950s) French models:
Soon after the start-up of Boneteria Auloronesa, Denis Guédon developed his own béret casquette, based on the 10p Auloronesa Universel. In my opinion this is still the ultimate peaked beret, but unfortunately the significant extra time and handling to produce these, makes them prohibitively expensive and after selling my present stock, these won't be restocked.
Searching for an affordable and quality alternative, TONAK was happy to delve into their catacombs and do a remake of the old FEZCO peaked beret (yes, the same one that all those happy workers wore; 60, 70 years ago!).
I chose for two stunning colours: the Mammoth (known from the Czech Classic and 11.5" models) and the new 'heather midnight-blue'. Only arrived here yesterday, guess what I'm wearing now?
100% wool, universal size and (presently) at only $44.50.
