Stetson's new beaver fedora

[tonyb]

They really need people like us working for them... people who have a passion for dress hats, though I think they prefer to recreate the hat and do so by seeing it as a costume rather than a piece of clothing.

You got that right, Matt. Sad truth is that for most moderns, a dress hat IS a costume. I see plenty of fedora-ish hats out here in rain country, but they're mostly of the casual variety. The fur felts are usually cheap. You can tell they're low quality from 10 feet away, but at least they're fur felt. I fear that the poor guy who buys a wool felt will be so soured by it that he'll never get a decent lid. And then there's the leather hats--not caps, but hats with crowns and brims made of thick cowhide. The things must weigh five pounds dry, and they look like (expletive deleted).
I saw one of the new all-beaver Borsalinos at the local retailer several months ago and was decidedly unimpressed by it. I was initially put off by the style of it, and then by the $450 price. I just can't imagine that the big manufacturers couldn't make a hat that rivals what they offered 50 years ago. They're apparently unconvinced that there's a market for it.

 

[besdor]

There is no way that Stetson will ever be able to duplicate their past glory . The hats are all made in Garland TX . This is a Western plant and that's what the workers do best . I have ordered dress hats from them and honestly , what sells the hat is the name ,that's it . As for the Beaver hat , it will sell somewhat in the begining but I doubt that they will offer it for more than a season or two .:cool2:

 

[SHARPETOYS]

I'll stick with Custom from....

With Art Fawcett and Steve Delk building custom made fedora's out of 100% beaver, rabbitt or a blend why would anyone buy a $300 Stetson when you can get a custom made fedora. ?? A 100% beaver felt from these hatters $225 and up is The Deal Of A Lifetime.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Well, We're creating names here and they are within the real hat wearing community. Stetson and Dobbs and Borsalino are now the lower end Woolworth's-worthy hat quality of today... sadly Nordstrom's and Saks are relegated to selling those lower end products.

 

[Tudor]

I agree with the sentiment here. I would only be interested in a soft, wide brimmed fedora with a tall crown at a price that is somewhat less than the price of a custom. I hope Hat Co. (Stetson) is paying attention. They need to offer a style and price that the public wants. (and we are the fedora buying public)
Dennis

 

[Matt Deckard]

They know how much of the Indiana Jones fan sales they have lost to Akubra. They don't care. Dress hats are not their concern, at least they weren't. Though everytime you see a celebrity wearing a felt hat at an awards show or on the screen, the idea of the dress hat as a viable moneymaking vehicle for them grows. Until then they are Cowboy hatters focussing on how many "X"s they can placeon the sweatband of a hat.