The $100,000 hat

[vonwotan]

Have you seen this article or this hat by Simón Espinal for Brent Black?

http://www.luxist.com/2009/08/10/the-classicist-the-100-000-panama-hat/

 

[carouselvic]

I'd wear it.

 

[Art Fawcett]

good grief..

 

[anon`]

good grief..

+1

.

 

[Garrett]

The price is obviously absurd but I also find it distasteful to drop names of celebrity clients as a point of sale.

 

[carouselvic]

The fair trade price has risen because of the weaker dollar. I saw this coming. TLH

 

[duggap]

The sad thing is that someone will come along and buy the darn thing.[huh]

 

[anon`]

The fair trade price has risen because of the weaker dollar. I saw this coming. TLH

I hope you're trying to crack a joke there, what with Ecuador's currency being... the US dollar.

 

[carouselvic]

I had no idea. Half of what I say here is tongue in cheek.

 

[Garrett]

I had no idea. Half of what I say here is tongue in cheek.

lol

 

[Aureliano]

The sad thing is that someone will come along and buy the darn thing.[huh]

Having lived half my life in Ecuador I have to say that the sad thing is that, yes, someone will come along and buy the thing, but also that no matter how many 100k hats this person weaves he will never get compansated the right way. The article said that BB acts as a gallerist who represents the art and the artist. I am a painter and I have a gallery here in NYC. My gallerist gets 25% (30 if the painting is large) and I get the rest: between 75 and 80%. I doubt Mr. Espinal is getting that sort of treatment. The minimum monthy monthy salary in Ecuador this days is about $220 a month (my sister with a masters degree makes less than $1000). Imagine if the weaver would get 75% from each of his hats? he'll be living better that the president. Sad. This sort of thing reminds me of the United Fruit Company. But maybe I should keep my mouth shut, after all--maybe as a side effect of things like this-- I end up coming to this country.

 

[CRH]

I'd wear it.

I'd let my dog drink out of it.

 

[Paul-ette]

The Truth

The reality is that the weavers get paid a fraction of what they're worth, the backweavers get a bit more, but even they get ripped off. The real tragedy that can happen down there, and is happening, is certain hat companies go down there and offer to pay for emergency bills, such as medical, and then the people end up being indebted to them and they have control over many people in a village. This reminds me of several periods during the last 600 years.

~ Paulette

 

[Aureliano]

The reality is that the weavers get paid a fraction of what they're worth, the backweavers get a bit more, but even they get ripped off. The real tragedy that can happen down there, and is happening, is certain hat companies go down there and offer to pay for emergency bills, such as medical, and then the people end up being indebted to them and they have control over many people in a village. This reminds me of several periods during the last 600 years.

~ Paulette

Completely agree. I want to add (and I want to give myself the benefit of the doubt here since I haven't been back in Ecuador in almost 10 years) is that a lot of this artisans (artesanos, we call them=craftsmen) are humble people, illiterate, and trustfull to a fault. They are going to belive if you tell them that what you give them is the most they are going to get. In a good way it's great that people like BB or PB or whomever are promoting the weavers to weave and keep this art form alive. Are they getting what they deserve? that's another question. I'm sure PB will hammer me whe he reads this.

 

[HungaryTom]

The Artist:
Van Gogh comes in mind - he knew what his paintings are worth and still he never got anything from the sea of dollars that his paintings generate nowadays for some galleries or museums.

The Gallerist:
It was Brent Black who initiated this project and let his top artist create a Chef d'oeuvre from his own budget and at his own risk.

The Hat:
String Quartets Nos. 7 - 9, Opus 59 - Rasumovsky (Beethoven) come in mind. Commissioned by a Russian diplomat who spent many years of his life in Vienna. Other diplomats spent also many years of their life in Vienna, and still never commissioned anything from Beethoven.

Other "hatmongers" never commissioned such a fine hat. Brent Black did. One could only hear the talk about the legend of 8-9-12 months hats - now at least a 5 month hat is there physically.

This was meant to be a reference piece and to leave a mark. It can be had for the said price if not it stays with the owner.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

That is beautiful.

I spoke long distance with Brent a couple months ago. We talked for an hour and a half. Simon would have never even thought to create such a hat if Brent hadn't encouraged him - and paid him - to do it. It is Simon's and Brent's Sistine Chapel ceiling. If/when someone does buy it, Simon will get a huge and deserved bonus and a foundation established by Brent in Ecuador to help weavers with medical and other quality of life issues will also get a big cash infusion. And yes, Brent will undoubtedly earn a big profit. That is good business. The creation of this hat upped Simon's notoriety and value immensely. And it was good for Brent's business in retailing these works of art to actual buyers around the world. When I see wonderful works and people buying and selling and profiting I don't get "sad" I get impressed.

 

[Mr. Paladin]

Fair trade; United Fruit Co.; capitalist oppression, evil Imperialists........

Paid political advertisement by???

 

[Carlisle Blues]

I also find it distasteful to drop names of celebrity clients as a point of sale.

The celebs may want to be associated with a hat of this caliber. Besides, BBB, is very astute at the PR of merchandise.

For further, reading

"The consensus of fashion marketers is that celebrities are more effective than models now in imprinting a brand in the customer's mind "

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/fashion/thursdaystyles/19joss.html

 

[Aureliano]

That is beautiful.

I spoke long distance with Brent a couple months ago. We talked for an hour and a half. Simon would have never even thought to create such a hat if Brent hadn't encouraged him - and paid him - to do it. It is Simon's and Brent's Sistine Chapel ceiling. If/when someone does buy it, Simon will get a huge and deserved bonus and a foundation established by Brent in Ecuador to help weavers with medical and other quality of life issues will also get a big cash infusion. And yes, Brent will undoubtedly earn a big profit. That is good business. The creation of this hat upped Simon's notoriety and value immensely. And it was good for Brent's business in retailing these works of art to actual buyers around the world. When I see wonderful works and people buying and selling and profiting I don't get "sad" I get impressed.

This makes a difference Gene. I was never saying I'm opposed to people buying and selling and profiting. My being "sad" only meant--and I'm sure you will agree on the sadness part-is that a lot of people take advantage of humble ignorant fellows over there. That's what's sad. Now if Brent, as is Palacios, are actually investing on the weavers well being, motivating them to work, helping them develop a sense and a culture of saving money (not blowing it on buzz every time!. My dad's workers in San Vicente, Manabi. Very close to Montecristi & Pile not even 10 minutes after being paid would be drinking up their money) and paying them fairly then bravo Brent, and bravo Palacios.

 

[Aureliano]

Fair trade; United Fruit Co.; capitalist oppression, evil Imperialists........

Paid political advertisement by???

Might not be getting the joke here and apologize if that's the case But, in this case, the advertisement is paid by me: I saw it, I tell it how it is.
PS
I hope that my earlier comment does not initiate a political fight here. Not the intention. I respect everyone's believes.