Berets, Anyone?

[Fern]

It’s one thing I never pay attention to. I will reach up and grab it on occasion to adjust the beret without pulling my hair all around, but that’s about it.

Oh man, you actually pull on it? I’d be too concerned about it accidentally ripping off.

In the article I linked earlier, they talk about how town drunks would get publicly shamed by having their txapela’s “txertena” cut off. And the whole town would know why they had theirs cut off.

Also, I remember there was a brand that @Daan posted about from Poland or somewhere in Eastern Europe, where the little tail was actually colored differently than the rest of the beret’s wool.

 

[Daan]

Oh man, you actually pull on it? I’d be too concerned about it accidentally ripping off.

In the article I linked earlier, they talk about how town drunks would get publicly shamed by having their txapela’s “txertena” cut off. And the whole town would know why they had theirs cut off.

Also, I remember there was a brand that @Daan posted about from Poland or somewhere in Eastern Europe, where the little tail was actually colored differently than the rest of the beret’s wool.

The cabillou (or txortena) is the very end of a beret's making. Once the knitting has been done (pictures below)

the two open sides are joined (sewn together) with the same thread of wool, ending at the centre of the beret. This is the cabillou!
Given that the label is typically sewn in with it's top side away from the seam, the cabillou will always point more or less backwards. In a quality beret the seam is invisible, but in more economic models, one can actually distinguish the seam (and in cotton berets the seam is certainly visible).

Personally, it never came to my mind to worry about the direction the cabillou points...
Military (style) berets have no cabillou, but as the manufacturing process is identical to a Basque beret, the cabillou was there. Feel over the top of any military style beret and you'll feel a small harder knot or even a little stump - the remains of the castrated cabillou.

As fo the differently dyed cabillou, mentioned by Fern, these come far from Eastern Europe, but are 100% true Basques from Bayonne (the Basque capital) in France, made by Le Bérets Français.

 

[Fern]

these come far from Eastern Europe, but are 100% true Basques from Bayonne (the Basque capital) in France, made by Le Bérets Français.

@Daan — thanks for responding with a very informative post.

This part I didn’t understand as clearly. Are they fabricated in Eastern Europe or in Bayonne, France?

 

[Daan]

@Daan — thanks for responding with a very informative post.

This part I didn’t understand as clearly. Are they fabricated in Eastern Europe or in Bayonne, France?

In Bayonne, France

 

[Fern]

Also appreciate the correction on the spelling! Now I know — it’s txortena! And txortena, and txortena!

I like that one of the blogs called it a stalk. That’s different than a tail, which I think is the more traditional association for that little part of the boina.

 

[Fern]

Also, Daan — this part was so expressive and provocative. Yikes! lol

a little stump - the remains of the castrated cabillou.

 

[Fern]

Ok guys, today’s #dailyboina at the office. La Encartada “suprema especial” in black, from 1996.

 

[quikrick]

Oh guys, todays #dailyboina at the office. La Encartada “suprema especial” in black, from 1996.

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Looking good man!

 

[Fern]

Looking good man!

Thank you!

 

[Mm25]

I often wear my beret pulled forward like a flat cap, but I don’t think it shows in pics. Anyway, off to hike between rain showers.

 

[Fern]

TGIF!

 

[Daan]

A Return from History: the Sosabowski Beret

The Sosabowski is a very special, historic beret. The beret was made immortal by General Stanisław Sosabowski of the 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade. It is a hybrid between a Basque and military style beret, is incredibly comfortable to wear and features qualities unseen in other berets...

The khaki 'Sosabowski' is a historical replica of the 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade's beret, created by beret manufacturer Sterkowski and South Pacific Berets, with the help of the Polish Army Museum and is exclusively available at South Pacific Berets.
The Sosabowski is a very sturdy, comfortable and breathable beret that keeps the head warm in any season. The beret can be worn with the leather band out (military style) or folded inwards (Basque style).

The beret's 10p/28cm⌀ crown is made of soft wool cloth and is fitted with a fully quilted lining made of layered cotton. This creates a very soft, protective layer as well as an excellent insulation.
The headband is made of natural leather and can be turned outside or inside for a comfortable, personalized fit.

Available from small to big XXL and XXXL sizes, in the historical khaki or navy-blue. Good old world craftsmanship from Poland.

Also new at South Pacific Berets are the Tatra Berety Baskijskie!
The Tatra Berety Baskijskie are traditional, classic Basque berets in 100% natural wool, unlined in a 10p/28cm⌀ model, easily fits any head size comfortably.

Handmade by Polish and Ukrainian crafts(wo)men, a stapel for any beret aficionado at a most compatible price.

 

[Fern]

A Return from History: the Sosabowski Beret

The Sosabowski is a very special, historic beret. The beret was made immortal by General Stanisław Sosabowski of the 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade. It is a hybrid between a Basque and military style beret, is incredibly comfortable to wear and features qualities unseen in other berets...
View attachment 491345 View attachment 491350
The khaki 'Sosabowski' is a historical replica of the 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade's beret, created by beret manufacturer Sterkowski and South Pacific Berets, with the help of the Polish Army Museum and is exclusively available at South Pacific Berets.
The Sosabowski is a very sturdy, comfortable and breathable beret that keeps the head warm in any season. The beret can be worn with the leather band out (military style) or folded inwards (Basque style).
View attachment 491343 View attachment 491344
The beret's 10p/28cm⌀ crown is made of soft wool cloth and is fitted with a fully quilted lining made of layered cotton. This creates a very soft, protective layer as well as an excellent insulation.
The headband is made of natural leather and can be turned outside or inside for a comfortable, personalized fit.
View attachment 491341 View attachment 491342
Available from small to big XXL and XXXL sizes, in the historical khaki or navy-blue. Good old world craftsmanship from Poland.
View attachment 491347 View attachment 491346

Also new at South Pacific Berets are the Tatra Berety Baskijskie!
The Tatra Berety Baskijskie are traditional, classic Basque berets in 100% natural wool, unlined in a 10p/28cm⌀ model, easily fits any head size comfortably.
View attachment 491348 View attachment 491349
Handmade by Polish and Ukrainian crafts(wo)men, a stapel for any beret aficionado at a most compatible price.

I like the lining of the second beret.

 

[Mm25]

Change of venue for daily boina and hike. Sonoran desert.

 

[Fern]

Change of venue for daily boina and hike. Sonoran desert.
View attachment 492649

Looks good! Like the bastón.

 

[Fern]

Had a nice day at the national gallery of art. Spotted many OG boinas in the Flemish/Dutch galleries:

 

[Daan]

Chinese made berets are best known for their low prices, poor quality and being sold at the most expensive tourist areas of Paris...

Beret manufacturer Lwobeing is the stereotypical exception to the rule, creating quality, comfortable Basque berets from Australian merino wool, building on a legacy of French beret-wearing in Shanghai. This legacy was formed during the period of the French Concession (1849-1945) and in 'Frenchtown' many older Shànghairén continue wearing the Basque beret every day.

The Cathay Lwobeing berets measure 28cm in diameter (10p), are fitted with an embroidered label and sewn-in satin lining.

Available in a range of colours at a cost incomparable with any European made berets @ $37.25!

 

[Daan]

A "late" SPECIAL this week, so it better be a good one!

For the next few days only (or as long as stock lasts): the Billy Childish Crow Berets at a massive ($47.05) discount!

This includes a genuine, autographed heavy weight postcard of a Billy Childish woodcut print.

The Crow 6200 measures 28cm in diameter - the W400 30cm in diameter, made of the highest quality Australian merino wool by Flamingo-Japan in a limited edition. Available in five artist colours: Herculean Blue, Raw Sienna, Permanent Green Light, Managanese Violet and Jackdaw Grey.

From $130.00 @ $82.95!

 

[alanfgag]

These look great. Thanks for the special sale!

 

[Daan]

Following the enormous succes of the Merino d'Arles by Manufacture de Bérets (now sold out), Le Béret Français created their own Merino d'Arles version!

These Bérets Merino d'Arles are natural merino berets made of undyed, natural wool of brown merino sheep from the Arles region in France.
Whereas most Merino sheep are bred with a focus on pure white fleece, the original colour of the wool are shades between milk-white to brown and grey. Le Béret Français uses the darkest brown Merino wool to be found.

The Merinos d’Arles produce a light fleece of only 2 kg of very fine wool in the range between 20/21 micron with a length of 5/7cm. The particularity of the Merino d’Arles fibre is its curliness; no other wool has so many bows per centimetre. This allows very light products due to its bulkiness and lightweight.

The new Dark Khaki d'Arles Classique is the same beret as the naturel model, but dyed in a dark khaki green.
Handmade in small batches in Bayonne, the capital of the French Basque Country.