Hey UK! Where do you buy your hats?

[Matt Deckard]

I've been to Herbert Johnson and Lock Hatters.

In France I stopped by Gelot and a couple other's I don't recall at the moment, yet that's across the way and not in the UK.

So UK members out there... Where have you bought your hats and why did you choose those places?

I know it's a lot easier here in the states to find hatshops since we still have the western folk keeping it alive.


Lock

HJ

 

[Nick D]

I'm not a Brit, just an expat, but there's a branch of The Hat Company in York. It's the only specialist hat shop in the area that I'm aware of. I bought an Olney boater there.

 

[Matt Deckard]

I swapped it for UK

 

[Garrett]

Ebay UK?

 

[Matt Deckard]

Oh come on... i'm trying to out shops in the UK... I can buy on Ebay UK Germany, Japan, Australia. But are there any other UK shops that you like to hit? Any other hatters?

 

[Methuselah]

The only one I know of in Manchester is J. Wippell & Co.
They are a general gent's clothes shop & clerical outfitters, but also sell Christy's hats (maybe Olney too)

EDIT: There's also the hat museum in Stockport, their gift shop has a Christy's ordering service, but only have about 15 hats in stock to try on. If you're ever in the area it's worth a look round, entry is free. (but not worth a special trip in my opinion)

 

[M6Classic]

Oh come on... i'm trying to out shops in the UK... I can buy on Ebay UK Germany, Japan, Australia. But are there any other UK shops that you like to hit? Any other hatters?

There are still many fine products I buy and have made in the U.K., hats are no longer among them.

I was a devoted Herbert Johnson Customer from circa 1970 until some point in the mid-eighties. The hats that HJ has produced in the past twenty-five years frankly, are second, even third rate. In my opinion, Lock and Bates went south even earlier than HJ.

I have been wearing fur felt fedoras for about forty years and I have looked at hats everywhere in the UK and France and Italy. If you want a hat...a really good hat that is made of fine felt and will last your lifetime..have it made by one of the three or four top U.S. hatters.

...that is, unless you want a tweed flat cap...

Buzz

 

[Garrett]

are you referring to custom hatters or large hat manufacturers?

 

[Matt Deckard]

Custom hatters and local shops or ... malls perhaps. Wherever you've bought a hat in the UK.

 

[avedwards]

The nicest modern mass production hat I have seen so far (note, I have not had an Akubra yet):
http://www.johnhalifax.co.uk/felts2.html
I bought one of the fedoras on the left in light grey. It's a very soft but good quality felt, and it stands up well to the rain.

 

[Methuselah]

The nicest modern mass production hat I have seen so far (note, I have not had an Akubra yet):
http://www.johnhalifax.co.uk/felts2.html
I bought one of the fedoras on the left in light grey. It's a very soft but good quality felt, and it stands up well to the rain.

Are there any hat shops near you? I'll be spending Christmas in Newcastle Under Lyme, which is only about 15 miles away.

 

[RobStC]

Matt, I think by now you might be getting the impression that the hat scene in the UK is pretty bad - and you'd be right!

The only things that seem to be around (unless you are in London and have access to Bates or Locks) are Olney, Linney or Christys, and most of those are nothing special in terms of shape or quality.

Here in Edinburgh there is only one 'specialist' hat shop (Fabhatrix), which mainly does Olney and Linney, with pretty much everything else being wool felt. Lots of tweed caps though. A couple of gents outfitters do a few Christys, but all pretty tapered or trilby-ish. Even antique shops rarely seem to have anything other than old Homburgs or Bowlers (although I did recently pick up an old 'under licence' UK Stetson for my 8 yr old son).

So all in all it's not great for fedoras, and most of us are reliant on importing hats from somewhere abroad.

Rob St.C

 

[daizawaguy]

The nicest modern mass production hat I have seen so far (note, I have not had an Akubra yet):
http://www.johnhalifax.co.uk/felts2.html
I bought one of the fedoras on the left in light grey. It's a very soft but good quality felt, and it stands up well to the rain.

Those are all Ladies hats...!? Max size is 58cm.

 

[daizawaguy]

Ah, found mens hats, sorry. They make a fine felt Susequana in a PINK!??

 

[Charlie Huang]

There is Patey's as well but they specialise in toppers, bowlers, ceremonial, equestrian and military hats, and millinary. They make their hard shell hats using traditional time-consuming methods. If I were to one day be called to take a seat in The Lords, I would not hesitate to get my bicorne from them.

The only one I know of in Manchester is J. Wippell & Co.
They are a general gent's clothes shop & clerical outfitters, but also sell Christy's hats (maybe Olney too)

I know Wippell's more for their academical dress robemaking than anything else. My BA degree hood was made by them (and I still wear it occasionally to congregation).

 

[avedwards]

Are there any hat shops near you? I'll be spending Christmas in Newcastle Under Lyme, which is only about 15 miles away.

John Halifax hats is a travelling hat shop, moving from around outdoor shows. I bought mine in the summer at the Shrewsbury Flower Show.

 

[avedwards]

Ah, found mens hats, sorry. They make a fine felt Susequana in a PINK!??

Agreed, they do pink, but I didn't buy one. And that doesn't detract from the overall good quality of the hat. Though I must agree, it's a bit odd. Mr Halifax told me he always puts the pink ones on the highest shelf to stop little girls grabbing them with grubby hands.

As for sizing, they only seem to go up to 58 which is odd as when I was there they had from 62 downwards.

 

[avedwards]

In answer to Mr Deckard's original question, there are no British custom hatters like Art Fawcett, John Penman, Optimo, Gary White etc. The best we have is Christys who will do different crown heights and brim widths. So I agree with RobStC that our hat scene is pretty bad. Importing is the best solution if one wants a larger choice of good quality hats.

 

[Nick D]

Even antique shops rarely seem to have anything other than old Homburgs or Bowlers

And usually in horrible condition, too. I did find a Dunn homburg in excellent condition, but usually the hats I've seen in antique stores look like they've gone through the wringer.

 

[daizawaguy]

And usually in horrible condition, too. I did find a Dunn homburg in excellent condition, but usually the hats I've seen in antique stores look like they've gone through the wringer.