b!wear Newsboy

[Marc Chevalier]

Someone must know this answer...

In the 1920s and '30s, a type of cardboard was most often used.


Believe it or not, vulcanized rubber was another material used from time to time. I have one '30s cap whose brim stinks of rubber: always has and always will.


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[deadlyhandsome]

I just discovered that this hatter (capper?) is 1/4 mile away on the same road from where I work. I never would have guessed that this little community would have a hatter. I think I’m obligated to get one...the prices are sure reasonable. I recall that @RJR has a few of these caps.

http://mariposa.yosemite.net/bwear/

Now to chose one (they are available standard or in a fuller cut with a larger bill).

Seersucker!

And get this:

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Very well known newsboy company for years on this forum.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Very well known newsboy company for years on this forum.

I knew it had been around for a long time (I posted it to an old thread).
As far as being well-known, they aren’t showing up much in the hat threads. I don’t know when I’ve seen one in the What Cap Are You Wearing Today thread. The proprietor is a member but hasn’t posted for years.

I never said it was a new company or an obscure one, just that I didn’t realize he was in my own backyard. I’ve even spoken to him in the past without knowing he makes caps. They seem to be well-reviewed other than some fitting issues that I hope I can avoid by stopping by his workshop to ensure fit.


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[RJR]

I just discovered that this hatter (capper?) is 1/4 mile away on the same road from where I work. I never would have guessed that this little community would have a hatter. I think I’m obligated to get one...the prices are sure reasonable. I recall that @RJR has a few of these caps.

http://mariposa.yosemite.net/bwear/

Now to chose one (they are available standard or in a fuller cut with a larger bill).

Seersucker!

And get this:

Your memory is good;I have several of Brett's caps.He'll do team colors and customs within reason.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

This thread needs a bump.

Today I met with Brett Stiles, the man behind the B! Wear Cap Company. He’s a delightful individual with a great life story. He’s been making caps since the 1970s and once made them on a wholesale basis. He brought over three completed caps, sweatband options, and material swatches. I paid for a cap and now have to decide on material. I didn’t see any of his stock fabrics that were exactly what I wanted, but he’ll make hats out of buyer’s supplies fabrics too. I was also convinced to try his suede sweatband over smooth leather. I went with the fullest cut and now I need to take my wife to the fabric store...how the worm has turned.

Brett’s caps are not intended to compete with some of the more finely made caps seen here, but they are solid and true to their blue collar roots (the prices are nice as well).

http://mariposa.yosemite.net/bwear/

 

[Hat and Rehat]

I knew it had been around for a long time (I posted it to an old thread).
As far as being well-known, they aren’t showing up much in the hat threads. I don’t know when I’ve seen one in the What Cap Are You Wearing Today thread. The proprietor is a member but hasn’t posted for years.

I never said it was a new company or an obscure one, just that I didn’t realize he was in my own backyard. I’ve even spoken to him in the past without knowing he makes caps. They seem to be well-reviewed other than some fitting issues that I hope I can avoid by stopping by his workshop to ensure fit.


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California privilege.

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[deadlyhandsome]

I didn’t like any of the materials I saw so I made a trip to a thrift store and located a minty Harris Tweed sports coat with purples, greens, and blues. Two days later my cap was completed. I went with the fullest cut and wasn’t disappointed with the results. Care was taken to match the pattern in the Tweed and the build quality is great. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting all the attention to detail for the price. The skills developed in over 40 years of cap making are in full evidence, and the cap is a real bargain at $50! Best yet, I was able to spend a couple hours with Brett Stiles (the hatter) and maybe five minutes was spent on caps. What a great guy with a great story. This won’t be my last cap from The B! Wear Cap Company.

The cost is the same if you supply the material or if you choose from what Brett has in stock. Seeing how plentiful and cheap old sports coats are (mine was less than $4 at a thrift store), and Brett will deconstruct the coat for you, you really can get some amazing patterns and colors.

http://mariposa.yosemite.net/bwear/




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[deadlyhandsome]

My latest B!Ware cap. I ordered it Wednesday and it was delivered Saturday! Brett (owner/maker) doesn’t usually make caps with a brim this long, but accommodated my request. It’s linen, but it’s no lightweight. It’s similar in weight to his wool caps. I was hoping for something gauzy and light for summer wear. I think it’s going to be too substantial for hot weather wear. The build quality is great and the fit is perfect. Can’t beat a custom made cap for $45!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Giving Brett at B! Wear Cap Co. some love. Getting to talk with Brett is worth the cost of a cap:

 

[Edward]

I love that long bill. Gto a B!Wear somewhere, was my first eight panel. One detail I really liked in it was the wire in the edge of the peak, which allowed it to be shaped.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

A recent visit to a thrift store looking for vintage hats ended up with me ordering another cap from Brett. While at the thrift store, I saw a great looking sport coat in a light colored and light weight 60/40 wool and silk blend. The coat set me back $4
I emailed Brett and was trying to arrange a meet when I saw him out for a stroll and ended having a 45 minute discussion on the side of the road. Brett said he’s slowed down a lot making caps, but he’s still willing to take on a new build. Hope to have the cap within a few days.

The caps are great, but don’t cheat yourself out of a long conversation with Brett.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Four days between dropping off the donor sport coat to delivery of the cap! The best $50 I’ve spent in a long time!

 

[Rmccamey]

Very nice, Brent. Does he make an "airy" summer cap?

Four days between dropping off the donor sport coat to delivery of the cap! The best $50 I’ve spent in a long time!

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[deadlyhandsome]

Very nice, Brent. Does he make an "airy" summer cap?

Thanks, Randy. I haven’t seen an airy cap from him yet. My linen cap from him is very substantial. A couple years ago I bought a couple yards of pale green light weight linen to be turned into a cap, but Brett said he couldn’t use it. I think his repertoire is pretty limited.