Has anyone had vintage straw hats cleaned by Optimo?

[Viper Man]

Specifically milans. Were you satisfied? I'm curious and my searches have come up empty. I live about 45 minutes away from there and have been VERY pleased with the work done on my vintage felts but I have never tried a straw.

How do they do it and how is the process different from cleaning felt?

 

[rlk]

Specifically milans. Were you satisfied? I'm curious and my searches have come up empty. I live about 45 minutes away from there and have been VERY pleased with the work done on my vintage felts but I have never tried a straw.

How do they do it and how is the process different from cleaning felt?

I have had a couple of Milans and some inexpensive Panamas cleaned and blocked by them and they came out looking great. I can't tell you the process they used however. It would be best to have them explain the options.

 

[carouselvic]

I have not used them for cleaning milan, but the work they did on my dirty rolled buntal was very pleasing.

 

[Viper Man]

Thanks for replying, guys.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Viper, Graham, to my knowledge, is the only hatter in the country that actually makes his own Milan bodies so I wouldn't worry at all about cleaning & blocking. He's never shared his cleaning methods with me so I can't share there.

 

[Viper Man]

Excellent. Thanks, Art! I hope things are well with you.

 

[univibe88]

Viper, Graham, to my knowledge, is the only hatter in the country that actually makes his own Milan bodies

What do you mean? Surely he is not weaving the bodies. Do you mean taking raw bodies and blocking/finishing them?

 

[Art Fawcett]

Karl, Milan bodies are made of wheat straw that is braided in varying widths ( approx 1/4" to 3/4") , then sewn together to form a body. I had Winchester make some prototypes for me last year but there is so little demand they didn't feel it worthwhile for them to make , they are THAT labor intensive and you really need someone that knows what they are doing to make it right. Optimo apparently has enough business and the right talent to make it profitable.

 

[daizawaguy]

An Art Fawcett Milan!?!>.......I`ll have 2 of them pre-booked please! Any other orders to make up the "demand"?

 

[Art Fawcett]

An Art Fawcett Milan!?!>.......I`ll have 2 of them pre-booked please! Any other orders to make up the "demand"?

Oh gosh..please don't back me into a corner Sir. What I didn't mention in my post was that the bodies they made were a bit on the rough side as they hadn't sewn one in years and lets say the skillset needed practice. They also, for a number of reasons, couldn't give me a quote.

 

[univibe88]

The idea of an Art Milan is a romantic notion, but it might be best to let him focus on his magic with felts and blocking Montecristis. It seems that Graham has the Milan machine working, so that is the place to go for Milans.