Bad market for beaver pelts?

[steppenwolph]

This article from Reuters says that prices on beaver pelts are falling to their lowest level in a decade. I wonder if this will be reflected in raw hat body prices and finished hat prices in the future.

 

[scotrace]

Watch it boys. [bad]

 

[Lefty]

Someone who has this many pets shouldn't be complaining that times are tough.

"As he skinned the animals back at his house, Renfro fed scraps of the fatty beaver meat to some of his family's eight dogs and 16 cats and floured and fried some fresh cuts for his human guests."

 

[Andykev]

I doubt it

This article from Reuters says that prices on beaver pelts are falling to their lowest level in a decade. I wonder if this will be reflected in raw hat body prices and finished hat prices in the future.

I believe that MOST of the custom hats made today (Optimo, Art Fawcett, etc.) will not be affected by the price of beaver pelts. The process from beaver pelt to hat body is quite long, time consuming, and requires special equipment. And like buggy whips, fedora hats are a relatively small "cottage" industry, with low volume. You may make a great buggy whip, but few people commute to work today in a buggy.

I have several wonderful hats from Optimo, and Art Fawcett. The latter charges far too little for the quality and beauty you are amazed with when you first open the box.....! You in essence pay for the skill and time of the artist, the gifted hatter.