Berets, Anyone?

[Daan]

I do really enjoy researching everything that relates to berets, publishing stories on The Beret Project and Facebook, but I still get my best kicks out of finding great pictures; the old villagers wearing their berets, paisanos con boina, Basque baserritarra, and interestingly, most feedback comes on these sort of postings too.
Here is a nice collection, good role models!

 

[alsendk]

I`ve just found a wonderful Flick`r page, with hundreds of fine pictures. I am not sure if this have been shown here before ?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/caravinagre/1365507420/in/pool-20294224@N00/

 

[Daan]

View attachment 1164
Fangio team

Nice one. I found one old photograph of Juan Manuel Fangio wearing a beret himself, with Ford V8, in the company of "Pichón Viangulli".

Berets have always been popular with both the racers and their mechanics, especially in Italy, where the basco was practically a part of uniform.

Attilio Marinoni (1892 – 18 June 1940), pictures above, was an Italian racecar driver from Lodi, Lombardy.

Battista Guidotti (picture above) too raced for Alfa Romeo and became their first test driver after winning the Mile Miglia in 1930. From WWII till his retirement in 1963 he was the team manager for Alfa Romeo.

Pictures of mechanics wearing berets; left for Moto Guzzi, right for Jawa.

 

[Daan]

¡Muy bien, Daan!
Let's see if you can beat this one called "a bunch of animals" Los Andes behind. View attachment 1209

Not the Andes, alright, but the Swiss Alps:

And at least, these cows are wearing the beret themselves...

 

[Daan]

The message below was sent to me the other day by a Texan student, struggling to find the details about his professor's beret. Have a read yourself:

Hello....This is just a stab in the dark but was hoping you may be able to help me identify this beret in the attached pictures. A college professor gave us one final chance at some extra credit if we could Identify and find a place to find another beret he was wearing. All we know is that he purchased it in Canada and we are in Dallas, TX.

Been searching the internet all day and no luck when I happened across your blog..can you offer any advise? Thank you in advance for any help you may have for me.
Cordially
David

And this the reply I sent him:
"Hi David,

Not easy... To be honest, I have not seen a similar beret to the one pictured. You don't happen to know if there is another (manufacturer's) label sewn into the inside of the headband?
My best guess is that it is either Canadian or US made. I would say that practically all French and Spanish made berets have an embroidered label, sewn onto the silk or satin lining - it is hard to make out from this picture, but this label, or initials really, seem to be stamped on the lining, a practice typical of American company Bancroft (I believe they are out of business now, they used to supply the US military...) and Parkhurst from Canada, which still exists.
It is definitely an older beret, I would guess 1970's (?) and not a very high quality beret either (maybe best not to share that with your professor). I see that from the single stitch headband without the ribbon that is typical for quality French, Spanish and Argentinean berets and it seems to me (but again, hard to tell from the picture) that it is a rather cheap vinyl headband.
I don't know how strict your prof is, but yes, I do sell berets that are quite similar to this one (alas, of slightly better quality), like the French made "Vrai Basque", which comes in a similar navy-blue. FYI, these are made by France's oldest beret manufacturer Blancq-Olibet in Nay (in the province of Bearn, northern Pyrenees), since 1819."

Anyone who recognizes this beret/label? Would be great to see this guy getting some extra credits due to a beret (I never managed to!).

 

[Daan]

While I am freezing behind my desk, doors open in the winter cold, the builders making a hell of a noise installing a new heat pump, I see all these linen and cotton berets going out to warmer places in the northern hemisphere. Time for a summer-beret post, I guess.

Bonigor in Buenos Aires were the first to make traditional Basque berets for summer wear. The initial reason was two-fold: an economic crisis that meant the company had to diversify (from just woollen berets) and the typical farm workers, peasants and gaucho's keen to continue wearing berets in the hot weather. The obvious way was to go for a looser knit beret in cotton, but it proved difficult to find a way to maintain the true character of a Basque beret - most cotton berets are too soft and floppy. The criterium Bonigor used was a lift-up by the txortena; did the beret maintain it's shape of turn into a used dishcloth?
This is from where the boinas Espinosa and Tolosa Tupida en algodon are born.

It took years to get them to the excellent berets they are now. Stiff, heavy weight cotton that keeps it's shape, yet remains very flexible, breathes and offers optimal protection from the sun and weather, manufactured according to the same age-old tradition as the merino version of these great berets.
The berets measure 280mm/11" diameter for the boinas Espinosa; 310mm/12.2" for the boinas Tolosa Tupida and, only for the brave, there are the very large 'Plato Grandes en Algodon', in 350mm (or 13.8") diameter!

Meanwhile, traditional Japanese hat manufacturer Kongo Shokai started manufacturing berets too, in the 1970's, and came up with their own summer version of their wool DEER beret - a beret in a linen/cotton mix that is among the nicest (quality, craftsmanship and comfort) berets that I know off. An extremely light beret, giving perfect protection from the sun without feeling one wears a beret.

 

[alsendk]

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Beret bass

 

[Daan]

View attachment 1867
Hello Daan, my favorite summer beret is... ¡Castilla cotton!

Absolutely! And if it was more affordable to import the Castilla range (from the Fabrica Nacional in Montevideo), I certainly would. Unfortunately, a combination of transfers, Customs and shipping makes these berets prohibitively expensive to re-stock - a real shame.
Here is an old post (2010) on The Beret Project. I remember my excitement when these berets first came in.

So, no berets from Uruguay, but I did come across this rather interesting video clip: Guri De Uruguaiana, the official Gaucho style version of PSY.
[video=youtube;prKw-F2B8bw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prKw-F2B8bw[/video]

 

[Daan]

A scoop that would have been un-imaginable only a few years ago, has happened: the new collection of Bérets Laulhère is first available through South Pacific Berets, from the bottom of the world!
While only to be seen on Paris and New York catwalks, and not available until September, you can now wear your own by ordering through South Pacific Berets.

One of two main news features are the Casquette, which is a true beret in the sense of manufacturing, but with a definite peak. Not quite a beret, not quite a flat cap - it's a Casquette!

The Casquettes come in three different colours, all in 100% merino wool, in "Nu" ("naked", or un-lined) and with Bayadère lining. Great for people who would like to wear a beret, but are not quite that confident yet and for beret wearers who simply want to change to something different at times.

Then there are the bérets bayadère, inspired by the interbellum's Roaring Twenties, or "Années Folles" ("crazy years"); Parisian jazz clubs and a hunger in people to express themselves and shed off the old conformative shells of society.

The term bayadère has two meanings: "dancer", from the Portuguese "bailadeira", and "fabric in striped, bright colours". The berets bayadère come in a variety of these multi-coloured linings, similar to those berets of the era that are now showcased in museums.
Beautiful berets in both appearance, touch and comfort!


And apart from these very new models, there are the winter version Tartes and the classic Basque Authentiques.

But, who is Laulhère?
Laulhère is one of only two French beret manufacturers left. It was in the year 1840 that Lucien Laulhère established the Laulhère company in Oloron-Sainte-Marie (Béarn), manufacturing handmade traditional berets known as the ‘béret Basque’. There were times that practically every Frenchman wore a beret and the industry flourished, but with the decline of headgear in general (1960's) and the competition from cheaper labour countries from Asia, times got tough and many manufacturers disappeared. Laulhère diversified its activities to include military berets and a new ladies collection of merino wool and angora hats, a novelty at the time. In 2011, Laulhère became a referenced supplier to the United Nations and its 28 members.

173 years later, Laulhère’s goal is to continue the ancient tradition, to ensure a national treasure lives on. Using only first class raw materials, all Laulhère’s berets are made in France. The manufacturing technique has been developed over 170 years and has changed very little, producing a unique felted wool, velvety to the touch, yet waterproof and amazingly resistant.

Laulhère’s hand crafted headwear can only be found in one place, the Laulhère beret factory in Oloron-Sainte-Marie. The attention to detail and unique hands on approach is what makes Laulhere the quality product it is today.

 

[1280almas]

[video=youtube;iPlk7nKFMw0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPlk7nKFMw0[/video]
I would like to dedicate this song to Daan and all the PRO "boineros". Decibelios was a Punk rock band from Catalunya, their popular hat is la Barretina.

 

[Daan]

I would like to dedicate this song to Daan and all the PRO "boineros". Decibelios was a Punk rock band from Catalunya, their popular hat is la Barretina.

Ah, thank you so much - I feel honoured! I had a look for material on Decibelios, but found neither barretina's or boinas. Alas, I did find some other music on CD:

Blair Douglas - "Under the Black Beret"

"Gaúcho" - Jayme Caetano Braun

"Ballads of the Green Berets" - Sgt Barry Sadler

Beret! America's only French hardcore band! (Beret! is the notorious group of American's that became so angry, they had no American means of expression and were forced to be reborn by their hate into a world of moustaches, wine, cigarettes, and stripes. The Frenchest thing to come out of America since taste, Beret! is a three-piece with singer Jacques Merde, bassist and singer Albert Fausse-Couche, and drummer Henri En Coule. Proclaiming that "only Americans need guitars", Beret! is simply bass, drums, and a few Frenchmen screaming as loud as they can. Combine that with an angry mob of French hooligans at the show for the sole purpose of being the hardcore-dancing fist to back Beret!'s words of anger, and there you have Beret!
The stripes, the smoke, the anger...va'ten coule.)

 

[Daan]

While Wellington is recovering from it's worst winter storm in decades, there is good news for those of you in the Northern Hemisphere: the new stock of cotton berets from Argentina has just come in! That means that all summer berets in cotton are in stock;

'boinas Espinosa',

'boinas Tolosa Tupida' and

'boinas Plato Grande'! Have a look here for more information and ordering.

And for those who find a cotton beret still too hot to bear, there are the linen DEER berets here!

 

[Daan]

No offence intended with this commercial post, but I wouldn't be surprised if some FL-visitors would be happy to know the DEER berets are currently on special and since these berets are not available anywhere else outside Japan....

 

[1280almas]

and since these berets are not available anywhere else outside Japan....[/SIZE][/FONT]

SPB is the best place for berets, but that's not a 100 % correct

 

[Daan]

SPB is the best place for berets, but that's not a 100 % correct

Nice berets, 1280Almas - I recognize most and the ones I don't stock, I should have in before September. You're obviously convinced about the quality of DEER. But, where did you get yours? To the best of my knowledge, there are no other retailers outside Japan...

 

[Daan]

A new daily updated blog: Role Models, show-casing beret wearers in their natural environment: http://basque-berets.blogspot.com.

Good for inspiration - you are not alone!

 

[Daan]

Not much happening here, at the Beret pages of The Fedora Lounge lately. The least I could do is post some great pictures I've come across recently.

And this beauty, by Ferdinando Scianna: Vigo, Spain. Men smoking.

And to let followers of The Beret Project and Berets-on-Facebook know: in a little under 2 weeks I'll be leaving for France and Spain, researching berets and meetings with manufacturers. Hope to return 2 weeks after with interesting news!

Meanwhile, The Beret Project continuous on automatic pilot, I fear I'll forget about Facebook for a few weeks and South Pacific Berets stays open as usual. Most orders will be dealt with during my absence; in the worst case customers face a 2-week delay with their delivery. All orders placed before 14 August will be shipped within 24 hours.

And some good news: all the Laulhère berets and casquettes are back in stock!

 

[howardeye]

My latest beret addition and the best quality of all from Daan! Boinas Elosequi 150 Year Anniversary from Spain! The Best and heaviest weave! I did not think I would ever like a leather sweatband but this one seems to be OK. All my others do not have a leather sweatband.

 

[Moca]

good to see some action here! suits you well, howardeye. you must have the smaller diameter - mine being more like a pancake big style

 

[howardeye]

It said 12 inches on the box but it is 10 1/2 inches wide which I like better. I have a 12.5 inch already and that one is too wide for me.