A quick simple question...what is Velour?

[Psykik]

Hi,
I am new to this wonderful forum, but not new to wearing a fedora.
For the last several years, I have gotten some great mileage out of a fur felt (unlined) fedora I bought from Orvis on clearance. Before that, I wore Lite Felt wool fedoras.

Now that the Orvis has seen its better years, I am looking again. As with most of my hobbies, I like to do my research, so like with my cigars and watches, I seek out and gain experience from the aficionados.

I have looked at some eBay hats and the archives here have helped to sift out the possible deals from the overpriced names of yesterday's fame and quality.

Onto my question-
I have seen vintage hats listed as being genuine velour. I know velour from shirts that used to be in style years ago and was more of a description of the finish of the material.

In hats, is velour an indication of finish or of the material, or both?
When I see the word "velour" on vintage hats does this refer to felt hats only?

I appreciate the mini-lesson!

Be well,
Rob

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Its a finish!!

Onto my question-
I have seen vintage hats listed as being genuine velour. I know velour from shirts that used to be in style years ago and was more of a description of the finish of the material.

In hats, is velour an indication of finish or of the material, or both?
When I see the word "velour" on vintage hats does this refer to felt hats only?

The felt can be finished many different ways. Velour is just a finish they put on the fur felt.

Here is an example!

http://www.millerhats.com/dobbs1.htm

http://www.hats-plus.com/detail.aspx?ID=87

Art Fawcett here at the lounge can make you one. His prices start at $125.00 for a custom made fedora.

http://www.vintagesilhouettes.com/m_hats_new_felts.htm

 

[fedoralover]

I read once that the velour finish on fur felt hats was accomplished by a brushing technique that slightly raised the fur, thus resulting in a very soft finish. You see it alot in they Tyrolean style hats. Not really my favorite style, but each to his own.

fedoralover

 

[Psykik]

Thanks for the response.
It isn't really my preference in a fedora finish, but I was wondering about what "velour" in the vintage hat listings referred to.

Rob

 

[Psykik]

I checked out Art's website a few times and only saw some vintage hats.
Interestingly, I did not see, or could not find the page in the helpful link below.

Art Fawcett here at the lounge can make you one. His prices start at $125.00 for a custom made fedora.

http://www.vintagesilhouettes.com/m_hats_new_felts.htm

 

[Joedahat]

Velour?

as posted on another site:
Fur felt hats are chiefly made of rabbit fur. Some hare fur is used to make better hats, and is often mixed with rabbit fur to produce hats in various medium price grades. Beaver, the finest fur, and nutria are usually used in the best hats.

Velour Finish,
This is famous for its deep lustrous nap, like that of fine velvet, and its extreme, melow pliability. Of all the finishes, this has, probably, the most fascinating appeal to the sense of the touch. The operation in its creation includes "sharkskinning" the hat body which really means combing up the nap and pulling out short fibers with real sharkskin strips mounted on a furiously rotating wheel. Then the fur fibers are clipped on special machines which flail away like a barber's clippers.

 

[Mycroft]

Velours remind me of my Ecuadorian Pork Pie, aka a Tweese, Panama Bob might know of these, in addtion to me.

 

[Psykik]

Great explanation- thanks!

as posted on another site: