Amish straw hat supplier in France?

[dragonaxe]

Hi folks

I've got a friend in France, who really wants to get hold of an Amish-style straw hat for the summer. He's found loads on US websites, but the shipping is too much.

Does anyone know of a French distributer/seller for these?

cheers

 

[Sam Craig]

Amish, if there are any in France, would be centralized if they are like those in the States.
Check for draft horses. Find one, you'll find the other.
Or look in tourist literature.
Anyway, if you can find any Amish, you'll find out where they get their clothes.
For example ... in the U.S., many buy their hats, shoes, broadfall pants, coats, etc., from a place galled Gohn Brothers, in Middlebury, Indiana. They order through the mail out of a catalog that is printed with no photographs ... just descriptions of the items.
I'd do a Web search for French Amish.
Hope that helps,

Sam

 

[hatophile]

Also try Amishcraft.com, I just ordered a black felt from there. They are out of Amish Pennsylvania. I don't know if they ship overseas.

 

[Sam Craig]

I would guess shipping from the U.S. to France would be something like shipping from Australia to here ... not cheap.

Having owned the Amish fur-felt and straw hats, however -- they are certainly worth the price.
They will last forever, even with hard use.

Sam

 

[Tomasso]

I would guess shipping from the U.S. to France would be something like shipping from Australia to here ... not cheap.

I've received many parcels from my shirtmaker in Paris and shipping was not terribly high. Over the years I've sent shirts back to them and I don't recall being shocked by the charges. That's not to say that US sellers aren't charging more than the going rate as you do see a fair amount of that in the marketplace these days.

I've no shipping experience to/from OZ but from what I've heard it is much more expensive than anywhere in the EU.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

I live in Amish country. I absolutely love on a warm day, hearing horses clip-clopping down Main Street Pardeeville, outside my house. Nothing better.

 

[Sam Craig]

Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop --BANG! -- clip,clop, clip-clop, clip-clop

An Amish drive-by shooting!

Sam

 

[John in Covina]

One thing also to look at is that the Amish are noted for their style of dress but I think their are some other denominations that dress similarly. A search for the others may turn up a French community with a source for these style hats?

 

[J.B.]

...clip-clop, clip-clop --BANG! -- clip,clop, clip-clop, clip-clop...

 

[AtomicEraTom]

Don't forget the Mennonites.

One thing also to look at is that the Amish are noted for their style of dress but I think their are some other denominations that dress similarly. A search for the others may turn up a French community with a source for these style hats?

 

[Tiller]

I would assume that there are some Amish remaining somewhere in the EU. Surely it would be cheaper for him shipping wise to search a bit closer to home. Maybe I'm wrong though lol.

We have Amish and Mennonites here, but strangely enough they tend to wear straw hats all year around.

Update: A quick Google search shows that my hunch was wrong, if this site can be believed anyways. Here.

There are no Amish left in Europe; The Amish were saved from extinction by William Penn who granted a haven from religious persecution in America. Since early colonial days the Amish have lived in the United States preserving their distinctive culture, dress, language and religion in peace and prosperity.

So it would seem that if your friend wants something made by the Amish, he will have to get it from the old USA.

 

[Sam Craig]

Dang,
That William Penn was a great guy.
We really ought to name something after him!

Sam

 

[J.B.]

Dang,
That William Penn was a great guy.
We really ought to name something after him!

...As a tribute to Amish frugality -- the 55¢ panetela that I'm gnawing on proudly bears his name! :hat:

 

[mayserwegener]

Hats are light weight and not of big size so they don't cost much (~ $15.00) to ship internationally.

 

[Sam Craig]

I think William Penn was a Quaker ... not the same as Amish, just similar hats. AT least the guy on the oatmeal box has a cool hat!

Sam

 

[John in Covina]

I would guess shipping from the U.S. to France would be something like shipping from Australia to here ... not cheap. Sam

Postage rates seem pretty high to me but international shipping has always seemed to be sky high even for surface rates.