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Wellema Hat Co

ChicagoWayVito

Practically Family
Messages
699
Well import and shipping is pretty steep. That's why I don't have winchester, even though they have more colors available in beaver.
I suspect that is one of the main reasons.

And yes, good question there. I suspect how they finish and treat to felt and what type of lining and ribbon they use.
A very experienced hatter blocks and finishes a hat in less time or the fact they have other people working for them as well?
And how fancy is the hatbox? :)

Shipping and import costs are definitely a concern. Also another consideration is minimum order quantity, some manufacturers will require a large order and I would say most shops cannot afford to place a large order for inventory. Winchester will allow you to buy a single hat body. I have been able to order a single Fepsa hat body from their online store but they definitely do not have all of their offerings online either. The shipping on that single hat body cost me more than the hat body itself. Online Fepsa store advertises their fur felt as 100% fur but they do not tell you what fur it is, so unless you have a contact and can order large quantities it will be a crap shoot on what you get. I will say that hat body I received came pre-pounced and was pretty amazing.
 

b1lf

One of the Regulars
Messages
172
Location
Long Beach, CA
Hey guys,

I must admit I joined this forum a few years back for advice leather jackets... and received some great advice over the years! I will say that I did stumble into some of the hat threads and think to myself, "Wow, I'd never wear one of those."

Yet here I am in foreign waters... the hat forum!





I'm considering a new hat - background:
I purchased a Stetson Temple fedora about 1 year ago. It was at a local hat store, tried a few on, and the teardrop pinch fit my head/face shape well. I end up really never wearing this hat. I wear a lot of black with mostly (indigo) denim jeans and either (black) boots or something like PF Flyers or Chucks. I do not wear classic men's dress wear. Mostly t's, un-tucked button down shirts, leather jackets.

I'm thinking a more, Western-style hat will suit my needs better, however with more of an urban vibe.



I looked through options and although my Stetson Temple is furr felted and seems 'nice' - I was thinking of getting something a bit nicer than that.

I came across Wellema Hat Co

https://www.wellemahatco.com/









I briefly searched this forum and didn't see many hits. Is that because this forum is heavily focus on vintage items? From what I can tell, the 1 man operation produces some very high quality hats.

Since I live in LA, I could visit his store and get fitted; run my thoughts past him; come up with a design that works for me, etc.



Thoughts? What style would you suggest pairs well (if anything) with denim jeans/nice boots/t-shirts to leather jackets?

What other options do I have out there. Fairly wide snap brim (~2.5"); medium crown height.... not totally sure to be honest.
 
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Johnnymiz

New in Town
Messages
4
Ive never owned a nice hat. I wear baseball caps every day except at the beach where it is a wide brim hat.....nor did I know exactly what i wanted or my head size. All I knew was that I am too old to wear a baseball cap with nicer clothes in the winter and my bald head requires a hat when it's cold. My wife and I were in LA a month ago from NY and decided to stop in to this shop that Ive seen on instagram. Cody is such a nice guy. We spent a while looking at the many ready made hats on his wall to come up with a style I liked...crown height, brim, etc...and discussed what looked good on my shape head. No pressure to buy...just a conversation. Then we got into felts and color. Handling his hats, the quality and workmanship just jumps out at you.
I ended up having him size me, picked a color felt, then we spent quite a bit of time talking about ribbons. I ended up going with a two tone look that my wife picked that really pops. It was a fantastic shopping experience. Now I just have to wait until December for it to arrive.
@b1lf, you should definitely take a drive to Altadena and visit Cody's shop.
 
Messages
10,839
Location
vancouver, canada
Ive never owned a nice hat. I wear baseball caps every day except at the beach where it is a wide brim hat.....nor did I know exactly what i wanted or my head size. All I knew was that I am too old to wear a baseball cap with nicer clothes in the winter and my bald head requires a hat when it's cold. My wife and I were in LA a month ago from NY and decided to stop in to this shop that Ive seen on instagram. Cody is such a nice guy. We spent a while looking at the many ready made hats on his wall to come up with a style I liked...crown height, brim, etc...and discussed what looked good on my shape head. No pressure to buy...just a conversation. Then we got into felts and color. Handling his hats, the quality and workmanship just jumps out at you.
I ended up having him size me, picked a color felt, then we spent quite a bit of time talking about ribbons. I ended up going with a two tone look that my wife picked that really pops. It was a fantastic shopping experience. Now I just have to wait until December for it to arrive.
@b1lf, you should definitely take a drive to Altadena and visit Cody's shop.
Interesting to get your review. I wonder if his price point is more...LA market...LA pricing. It is a high premium to pay. Curious to hear if it represents good value.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk
 

b1lf

One of the Regulars
Messages
172
Location
Long Beach, CA
Ive never owned a nice hat. I wear baseball caps every day except at the beach where it is a wide brim hat.....nor did I know exactly what i wanted or my head size. All I knew was that I am too old to wear a baseball cap with nicer clothes in the winter and my bald head requires a hat when it's cold. My wife and I were in LA a month ago from NY and decided to stop in to this shop that Ive seen on instagram. Cody is such a nice guy. We spent a while looking at the many ready made hats on his wall to come up with a style I liked...crown height, brim, etc...and discussed what looked good on my shape head. No pressure to buy...just a conversation. Then we got into felts and color. Handling his hats, the quality and workmanship just jumps out at you.
I ended up having him size me, picked a color felt, then we spent quite a bit of time talking about ribbons. I ended up going with a two tone look that my wife picked that really pops. It was a fantastic shopping experience. Now I just have to wait until December for it to arrive.
@b1lf, you should definitely take a drive to Altadena and visit Cody's shop.


That's a hell of a first post........... CODY


haha
 

Johnnymiz

New in Town
Messages
4
@belfastboy,
We shall see, wont we?
I look online and some guys are less (Art Fawcett, Gannon, etc), and some guys are more (Optimo), and it had to do with availabilty. Theyre all, fantastic, im sure. If i was going to be in chicago, i wouldve stopped in at Optimo. And for a bespoke hat, i wanted to do it in person, not online or over the phone. Now that i get the process, may be the next one will be that way. I have been to hat "stores" and not been impressed.
Once i was at Cody's shop, i WAS impressed with the workmanship of the hats on the shelf and i liked him, too. So, i had him make me one. Yes, its a lot of coin...but i am hoping it is worth it. Again, we shall see.
 

Johnnymiz

New in Town
Messages
4
@b1lf,
I like the sass. The reason that was my first post is because i never had anything to add that had value. No one wants to hear my dissertation on Legacy NYU ball caps...as that is pretty much all I wear. So, I'm not Cody trolling the Fedora Lounge.
You can look me up on Style Forum and a bunch of others...same screen name.
 

b1lf

One of the Regulars
Messages
172
Location
Long Beach, CA
@b1lf,
I like the sass. The reason that was my first post is because i never had anything to add that had value. No one wants to hear my dissertation on Legacy NYU ball caps...as that is pretty much all I wear. So, I'm not Cody trolling the Fedora Lounge.
You can look me up on Style Forum and a bunch of others...same screen name.

It’s called a joke pal.
 

Johnnymiz

New in Town
Messages
4
i figured, which is why i said i liked the sass.
but it's sometimes hard to tell on the internet... you know?
so, i clarified since it WAS my first post and i could see your point entirely, whether it was in jest or not.
no worries.

added some hat content for you to make it legit ;)
 

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