car2oonz
New in Town
- Messages
- 5
- Location
- The Netherlands
Not wanting to start a new thread for questions probably asked a thousand times, I thought I'd add to this active thread - although I feel humbled by the knowledge here. Having loved hats my whole life (nearly six decades!), I only 'came out' a few years ago and donned one. Where I grew up, it just wasn't done unless you were famous or flamboyant. I am neither. But with age, comes that glorious 'I couldn't give a d**n what others think' feeling. I love fedoras, and in particular Panamas, so I bought one a few years ago from a fairtrade world shop here in the Netherlands. I'm now recognized as that slightly excentic Englishman who goes shopping in a straw hat.
I think it's a brisa weave, no idea from where in Ecuador, but I'm not really that worried as it wasn't expensive (65 euro - about $70), fits well and I wear it a lot. I bought a second one a year ago from the same shop (they phone me when they have a size 61!) and it's from a women's workers collective in Sigsig. Again, happy with it, and I hope the weavers get their fair share of my $70. The weave is slightly less regular, brim is wider and floppier, crown is taller and it feels a bit lighter than my first. I prefer the first one - that's it in my avatar.
I'm now ready to take it up a notch and go for a slightly better hat. Love Brent Black's hats and website is the most entertaining I've ever read but sadly I'm not in that price class. When you add postage, value-added tax and import duties here in Europe, it goes into the 'reason for divorce' category. I'd like to see what Panama Bob is offering but he dosn't seem active at the moment. So do any other Europeans have experience with ordering on-line from companies in Ecuador? I also looked at Christys' in London and they have some candidates, although the photo for the 90 pound ($140) Brisa is the same as for the 126 pound ($197) superfino grade 8! I think I'm charmed by the prestigeous name. Again, anyone with experience buying from this company?
I hope I haven't bored you with my ramblings, but it's refreshing to discover like-minded hat people. I came across the forum during my search for information. I've already dusted off the felt fedoras...
I think it's a brisa weave, no idea from where in Ecuador, but I'm not really that worried as it wasn't expensive (65 euro - about $70), fits well and I wear it a lot. I bought a second one a year ago from the same shop (they phone me when they have a size 61!) and it's from a women's workers collective in Sigsig. Again, happy with it, and I hope the weavers get their fair share of my $70. The weave is slightly less regular, brim is wider and floppier, crown is taller and it feels a bit lighter than my first. I prefer the first one - that's it in my avatar.
I'm now ready to take it up a notch and go for a slightly better hat. Love Brent Black's hats and website is the most entertaining I've ever read but sadly I'm not in that price class. When you add postage, value-added tax and import duties here in Europe, it goes into the 'reason for divorce' category. I'd like to see what Panama Bob is offering but he dosn't seem active at the moment. So do any other Europeans have experience with ordering on-line from companies in Ecuador? I also looked at Christys' in London and they have some candidates, although the photo for the 90 pound ($140) Brisa is the same as for the 126 pound ($197) superfino grade 8! I think I'm charmed by the prestigeous name. Again, anyone with experience buying from this company?
I hope I haven't bored you with my ramblings, but it's refreshing to discover like-minded hat people. I came across the forum during my search for information. I've already dusted off the felt fedoras...
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Sure it won't be much longer before we'll have to pay to see anything on the interweb. Thanks for the link anyway, I was able to read the OCR text.
