HNC Hatworks (formerly known as Agnoulita Hats)

[Perry Underwood]

Here is what I promised.
The hat after reshaping
View attachment 162945 View attachment 162946 View attachment 162947 View attachment 162948

And me after a walk downtown
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All the best,
Panos

Thank you for sharing your experience with Agnoulita Hats. You have a great looking hat! I believe the color is the same as mine. I chose light grey because it should go with many different colors of clothes. You wear the hat very, very well.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Just Daniel]

GREAT post and GREAT hat!

Hi there,

I am new in this group and that's my first post and I hereby would like to share my own experience with Agnoulita hats, since reading this thread highly contributed to my decision ordering from them.

Intro: I must say that I am quite new to hats and headwear in general. I have started wearing hats mainly for practical reasons (currently leaving in Oslo, Norway) but always having style in mind. Mainly I aim for flat and newsboy caps and fedoras caught my attention recently although it took me almost two years to start wearing them in public and not feeling awkward about it. I guess it's not so common these days to see men in early-mid 30's wearing brim hats. Anyways, after owning a wool felt Wegener and a fur felt Stetson I have decided to go for a custom made one. Honestly, before reading it here I could not believe that someone from my country of origin would make such a high quality custom made felt hats other than sailor caps. So I gave it a try.

Order: After throwing a call to Mr. P and describing to him what I was looking for, I was already convinced about his knowledge and professionalism within the few first minutes. Order was made through Etsy the same day for the 5217 model with my customization details given as a note to the seller upon ordering. Mr P came back after few days with some customization suggestions as requested.

Delivery: I really can't say much here since this was combined with a trip of my girlfriend to Athens and local pick up. However I must say that upon my request my girlfriend asked for some felt samples and a brush, for which Mr P did not accept to take money for

The hat: Arrived in a nice red hardpaper box and hat matched exactly the customization notes :

Light grey (P-8188) rabbit fur felt body
extra fine pouncing
14cm teardrop crown
6.4cm snap brim with 6mm ribbon finish
4cm charcoal ribbon with bow finish
chocolate leather sweatband
off white top rayon lining and elephant gray sides

Initial thoughts : Hat feels sturdy but soft in touch with a nice weight. It gives you this feeling of a luxurious custom made item.

Fit and finish : My head measures 56.8-9cm and Mr P suggested to go for a 57.2 size, the result is a lovely comfortable fit that could be easily adjusted to a snug fit if needed (e.g. in a windy day) although there was no need for that yet. I must say here that the overall look of the hat on my head proportions seemed quite bulky so I changed it to a lower profile teardrop. Now it is around 13cm at the highest point. That was of course my mistake since I am still experimenting with hat styles and dimensions. Working with stream and shaping went very smoothly even for an amateur like me. I have to say that although that's one of my initial hat reshaping efforts I am very happy with the result and I enjoyed the procedure as much as the flows and imperfections of a hand shaped result. Now I know, next ones will be ordered with an open crown ;-). Brim is snap, you can actually hear it and can hold almost any given angle and shape. Sweatband feels great on touch and skin and personally I prefer it from the one in a modern Borsalino that I have set my sights on and I tried at least twice per month in the local hat shop ;-)

Compared with my other hats : Not much to say here due to my very small selection. Compared to my fur felt Stetson although it feels a bit more rough in touch, it was much easier to work on upon streaming and the general impression is of a more luxurious hat although a bit cheaper. I am aware though that my Stetson belongs to a budget line.

Overall : I am very happy with my purchase and I cannot think of anything I could expect more from it and as such I can't recommend it highly enough. I am now convinced that his hats offer a great value for money. Therefore more orders will be placed soon, probably a suede finish and a Winchester beaver (which Mr P informed me on another phone call he currently has in 3 color options) and maybe a Homburg in the future. My impression from Mr P is of a person passionate with his work who is willing to do his best to satisfy his customer.

Disclosures : I have no affiliation with Mr P's business neither I know him personally. We only share the common Nationality and passion for our professions ;-)

Photos : These will follow in a another post after I find out how to attach some pics here ;-)

All the best,
Panos

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Here is what I promised.
The hat after reshaping
View attachment 162945 View attachment 162946 View attachment 162947 View attachment 162948

And me after a walk downtown
View attachment 162950 View attachment 162951
All the best,
Panos

Great review. When you get it right (yours is definitely “right”), I really like what Agnoulita is capable of putting out. Your classic color scheme and proportions should go well with just about everything. It’s a good looking hat and you wear it well. Congratulations!


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[PanosChris]

Dear all,
Many thanks for your kind comments and welcome wishes! I am already glad to be part of this community. Indeed I think that the color combinations and style make for a very versatile hat. Most probably it will get a lot of head time
All the best,
Panos

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I don’t recall seeing this hat last year. It’s his take on a duplex/dualist hat. Agnoulita is calling it The Alexander and it’s a Panama / toquilla straw top and a rabbit fur brim/lower. It’s $190 which strikes me as a good deal. I’m sure it’s not in the same league as a VS or Northwest etc., but it looks pretty good and lots of options with many felt and ribbon colors available.

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[PanosChris]

I am currently aiming to try some of the different finishes they offer. Deadlyhandsome I think you have tried most of them? I was wondering whether the velour you got is the single sided rabbit or the wild hare peachbloom? Regarding the beaver long hair one it's not silk finished (polished) right ? Btw has anyone heard from Mr P lately? Best, Panos

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I am currently aiming to try some of the different finishes they offer. Deadlyhandsome I think you have tried most of them? I was wondering whether the velour you got is the single sided rabbit or the wild hare peachbloom? Regarding the beaver long hair one it's not silk finished (polished) right ? Btw has anyone heard from Mr P lately? Best, Panos

I’m glad that Agnoulita is seeing some love. They are nice hats for the money.

I looked at the peachbloom, but Mr. P said they weren’t big enough for the hats I wanted (size 62, 6+ inch crowns, and 2 3/4+ inch brims). My velour is the single sided option and I’m not all that impressed.

My one long hair is evenly pounced with a decent hand, but it is not a silk finish. I really like the long hair, much more than the velour, and I appreciate that I was able to specify the amount of stiffener I wanted added.

For just normal hats, my favorite is the antelope/suede. It’s a great finish and makes a nice hat. The bodies are also limited in size so you can get a fedora in any reasonable dimensions, but not a western.

I haven’t heard from Mr. P in several months. He’s a busy guy and doesn’t always immediately answer emails, but he is genuinely kind and helpful. I respect him and recommend his hats as long as you accept they are made to a price.


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[PanosChris]

I’m glad that Agnoulita is seeing some love. They are nice hats for the money.

I looked at the peachbloom, but Mr. P said they weren’t big enough for the hats I wanted (size 62, 6+ inch crowns, and 2 3/4+ inch brims). My velour is the single sided option and I’m not all that impressed.

My one long hair is evenly pounced with a decent hand, but it is not a silk finish. I really like the long hair, much more than the velour, and I appreciate that I was able to specify the amount of stiffener I wanted added.

For just normal hats, my favorite is the antelope/suede. It’s a great finish and makes a nice hat. The bodies are also limited in size so you can get a fedora in any reasonable dimensions, but not a western.

I haven’t heard from Mr. P in several months. He’s a busy guy and doesn’t always immediately answer emails, but he is genuinely kind and helpful. I respect him and recommend his hats as long as you accept they are made to a price.


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Thanks for the prompt response. I think your honest reviews contributed quite a lot to that. Definitely in my case at least. Suede seems the way to go and probably makes for a very versatile hat. What I haven't really understood is that the silk finished long hair in blue Mr P has on the listings seems much less fuzzy compared to yours. Is that just a visual effect or silk finish trims down some hair as well? Some input on that would be very much appreciated. And I totally agree about Mr P and his work.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Unfortunately, I only have one of his long hairs so I can’t compare them. I do know that compared to some of the Optimo finishes and my own experience with Borsalino Peluche hats, the Agnoulita “hairs” are longer and less dense as well as having a lower sheen. It is still a nice hat, and it was just what I was expecting which is as much as anyone can ask for.


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[PanosChris]

Unfortunately, I only have one of his long hairs so I can’t compare them. I do know that compared to some of the Optimo finishes and my own experience with Borsalino Peluche hats, the Agnoulita “hairs” are longer and less dense as well as having a lower sheen. It is still a nice hat, and it was just what I was expecting which is as much as anyone can ask for.


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Thanks. What you are describing is more or less my thoughts on how these compare to other similar offers. I guess optimo is using Fepsa (in pure beaver?). The biggest problem with Agnoulita is that they offer far too many options and too good to resist

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I just saw that Agnoulita is now offering nutria hats! Additionally, he is no longer overlapping the ends of ribbon on brim bindings, and is now butting them together like they should be. I’m just about convinced to order another.


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[PanosChris]

I just saw that Agnoulita is now offering nutria hats! Additionally, he is no longer overlapping the ends of ribbon on brim bindings, and is now butting them together like they should be. I’m just about convinced to order another.


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Yep
Just placed an order for a marine suede in a Trevor hat like style. Very curious to see (read try) the nutria ones.

 

[manicsubmersion]

A new hat arrived today, quickly from Greece to New Mexico. This is Agnoulita's "Banjo" hat, rabbit fur, chocolate brown with a forest green 3/8" thin ribbon. The felt color is difficult to produce on screen. The ribbon is fairly close to actual on my monitor. Craftsmanship is excellent. I took it out of the box, snapped the brim down, and I have been wearing it all morning

 

[manicsubmersion]

Here is one more photo with me wearing the hat. The felt color is closer on this picture but you cannot see the ribbon work

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Yep
Just placed an order for a marine suede in a Trevor hat like style. Very curious to see (read try) the nutria ones.

Any idea what he’s charging for his Nutria hats? I don’t see them offered in his Etsy store.


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[PanosChris]

Any idea what he’s charging for his Nutria hats? I don’t see them offered in his Etsy store.


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Not really, I also saw that he now offers hare bodies in suede and velour (maybe that's the peachbloom?) but not a clue about the nutria ones. BTW my rabbit suede has also just arrived and I love it . Not sure whether I should write a review since you have all ready multi covered the suede line?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Not really, I also saw that he now offers hare bodies in suede and velour (maybe that's the peachbloom?) but not a clue about the nutria ones. BTW my rabbit suede has also just arrived and I love it . Not sure whether I should write a review since you have all ready multi covered the suede line?

Please write a review! I’m very curious to read your impressions and to see if his build techniques have changed as he has said. Love to see photos of your hat too.


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[Scooterz]

Has anyone had Agnoulita hats in a good rain? If so how did they hold up? Wondering if the rabbit holds up anything like Akubra's rabbit. Nutria sounds interesting.

 

[Scooterz]

Here is one more photo with me wearing the hat. The felt color is closer on this picture but you cannot see the ribbon work
View attachment 170051

What are the dimensions of this hat?

 

[manicsubmersion]

I asked for a 5 inch crown and a 3 inch brim. Although I have not measured it, I think the hat is fairly close to those dimensions. My only real criticism or concern is that the felt body seems a bit thin. Someone asked about rain, the hat got a bit wet today, not a deluge, but it did not seem to damage the hat. Stitching of the hat band is very good. The ribbon work is simple but carefully done.

I asked about nutria hats. Here is his response:
“It is correct, we do offer nutria felt in three colors; Navy, Dark Grey, and Black.

Please note, however, this material is currently available only in a double sided velour finish.”