New color on a Fedora

[Fortino37]

As few menbers asked on the Thread "Looking for a black Fedora" about how did I change the color of a Bradford Fedora, well here is the process I follow, this time I select a vintage hat, a light grey fedora (Mallory "The Dallas"), that has several stained and decolorated areas.

First you have to strip the hat, it means to remove the ribbon, the sweatband and the liner.

You need a bucket with enough water to cover the hat.

Have to heat the water and mix the colors until obtain the tone you want.
in this case I was looking for a dark green, so I mix olive green and black and check the tone using a white ribbot, you can see the different tests along the piece.

Later have to wash the hat body, I use a sponge and neutral soap.

With the boiling water and the color mixed then I introduce the hat in the bucket, and to wag constantly for 20 minutes.

Some white ribbon was addeed to get the same tone of the hat.

After 20 min the hat is ready, have to take it out of the bucket and gave it a light shower. After that let it dry naturally.

Once dry, I gave the hatbody, the ribbon and the sweatband to my hatter, who returned to me in a perfect like new conditions.

I already made this color change in about 5 or 6 fedoras and all with great results.

Saludos from Mexicali

 

[Jerekson]

Nice work! :eusa_clap

I've always wondered how changing a hat color would work. Very cool.

Can I ask, how does the color hold up in rain? I can't imagine much would happen, being as the hat was colored in water in the first place - but still, I figured I would ask.

 

[tonyb]

Thanks, Fortino. What kind of dye do you use?

 

[Fortino37]

Colors for a hat

I use common color powder for clothes, and don't have problems with raining days, it has a fixer to avoid decoloration.

 

[bolthead]

Incredible....

That is an Awesome Tutorial you've done there, great job. :eusa_clap

 

[Cicero]

That is an Awesome Tutorial you've done there, great job. :eusa_clap

I second that.
Did the hat shrink a bit after all that boiling?

 

[Razzman]

Very impressive work!:eusa_clap Great job. The end results on that hat look great.

 

[John in Covina]

Nice results!

Well Done!

 

[Jay]

Fantastic idea!

 

[Duck]

Well Done!!!

Very nice work!! The results look fantastic:eusa_clap

 

[Bud-n-Texas]

Fortino, I have wanted a light blue summer weight for some time now. This tutorial of yours gives visions of grandeur. I may have to give this some thought. It may provide the best avenue to get were I want to be. I have a vintage Alessandra that might be a good candidate, I just hate the thought of a miscue and what I might end up with. On the other hand a light blue vintage Borso would be hard to beat.

 

[RBH]

WOW that is fantastic!!
The Lounge is a great place to learn. Members here are getting bolder all the time. Thanks for letting us in on your fine work!
VIVA LA MEXICALI

 

[Bogie]

Amazing my good sir, simply amazing!!

I applaud your efforts, your bravery, and your results. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[J.T.Marcus]

I can't afford a "hatter," so I've had to learn to sew sweatbands and ribbons back onto the hat body. With a little practice it"s not that hard. But I've never tried the dye. Gotta do that!

 

[Undertow]

Excellent tutorial and step by step pictures, thank you! :eusa_clap

 

[akaBruno]

Nice work. THanks for the tutorial.

BRUNO