Northwest Hats, Eugene, Ore.

[splintercellsz]

CCC, beautiful hat!

 

[bowlerman]

Very pretty! Your photos do his business a greater service than the ones on his website-- great hat!

 

[Alive'n'Amplified]

His better pictures are on Facebook...

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Northwest-Hats/430701690275477

 

[bowlerman]

very much so. Thanks An'A!

 

[Grizzly Adams]

I had the pleasure of meeting Mike yesterday. He gave an old Open Road I dragged up a bit of TLC for me. Mile does great work , and I will be getting a hat made in the near future.

 

[mikespens]

And don't forget Penman Hats in the Portland area. This state is indeed blessed with some fantastic talented hatters. And although not in Oregon, but just up the road a ways is Tumwater Hats. So overall the Northwest has a large pool of very talented hatters.

fedoralover

Since we're in Washinton now don't forget Bob Jesse of Black Sheep Hat Works but we could be getting off topic here.

 

[Alive'n'Amplified]

The pics above show the before and after of my Beaver Brand OR-style hat that Mike had renovated. I asked him to give me a couple of options for the edge binding. He sent me pics of a light, almost silver, ribbon and a beige, almost gold color. It was his suggestion to go with the lighter colored ribbon; he thought it added a nicer touch, as it was more subtle. However, at that time I wanted something with greater contrast, so I chose the darker of the two.

Mike did a fine job, and I was very happy with the results. You can tell he had the right tools to do the job. Recently, though, I thought that the binding was taking away from the brim width. We went with a 7/8" ribbon on a 2 3/8" brim, giving us approximately 1/2" on the top and bottom of the brim. While you could clearly identify the edge of the brim as I was wearing it, the contrast of the ribbon and felt created a narrower perceived width. Mike called it, and while I can't say that I'd be happier with the lighter colored ribbon, he knew what would look best.

I took the ribbon off today to preserve the brim and retain a minimalist appearance. This hat only needs the contrast between the charcoal / blue-grey crown ribbon and the silverbelly felt. I'm very happy I did. :thumb: It will wear well with my entire wardrobe, rather than a more formal feel. After I removed the ribbon I steamed the edge to "swell" the felt and fill in the stitch holes. There is still a very faint line where the stitches were. It's so subtle that I love how it looks. And the raw edge is so sharp I can cut steak with it!

 

[Short Balding Guy]

AnA; The hat is a totally different fedora from the before pic. I agree that the current version, without the 7/8 " binding ribbon, is more subtle. I do like the new look. I imagine the hat will work well when you wear it with your everyday office attire. Looks like a sharp hat sir.

Best, Eric -

 

[Alive'n'Amplified]

Thank you, Eric! The first conversion was meant to look like one of Rabbit's VS hats. You have a few light colored VS's that I have admired, as well. Now it kinda reminds me of those.

 

[mikespens]

David I must admit I've never been a fan of contrasting ribbon/brim treatments so naturally like the after much better. Think you have a much more versatile hat now.

 

[DJH]

I agree - looks great a a raw edge!

 

[Alive'n'Amplified]

Thanks, guys.

I really liked the binding when I first got it, but it proved limited. After it sat in on the shelf without much head time, I decided to make the change. It's now a totally different hat. :thumb:

 

[g.durand]

AnA--I agree with everyone else, the hat really looks crisp now.

 

[Dan Allen]

I had recently acquired a "pre Beaver Brand" 100% clear beaver hat that nasty would be a understatement. I sent it to Mike at Northwest Hatters for a refurbish and conversion. I am hard pressed to believe he sent the same hat back. A complete clean, reblock, new ribbon and brim binding and it went from being condemned by the health department to a very nice hat--he does great work

 

[Alive'n'Amplified]

Congrats! Beautiful hat!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

 

[Tedquinton]

That is a stunning refurb.

Well done Mike.

 

[Worf]

Anybody do similar work here in the Northeast? The guy does GREAT work but I'm just trying to avoid Coast to Coast shipping and manglage!

Worf

 

[fedoralover]

Another Make over

I've had this Knox fedora for years and after a lot of wear it got relegated to being a yard hat. The sweatband was bad and the edge binding and ribbon were both stained and faded. I looked at it the other day and decided that since the felt was still in very good shape I should have Mike at Northwest hatters give it a make over. Since he is only 5 minutes from my house it was an easy drop off. I told Mike to do what he wanted with it as I didn't care. So he picked out the colors and ribbon. He put a small satin badge in the crown rather than a regular liner to make it cooler in the summer. Mike sews those in by hand and you can't see a single stitch. I don't know how he does it. He did his usual top notch work on it. It kinda resembles a Whippet now.

fedoralover

 

[seabass]

Great Hat fedoralover too purty for a yard hat now !
Any before pics ?

I have the same linerless interior on the last hat he made me works & feels great .

Dan Allen nice work on your redo as well clean & spiffy !

 

[Tedquinton]

I asked Mike to make me an Indy style fedora. I wasn't looking for it to match any particular scene. I just wanted a hat with an Indy vibe.

I think mike delivered.