Leather hats

[Trikegator]

I have started making hats. I have my own patterns, and I do have some that I have purchased. Is there a market for them?

[fredk]

I'd say yes there is. 

Hats are culture influenced though. A hat that sells well in one place may not sell in another

[Bert03241]

pictures please

[alpha2]

Here's my take on leather hats. They're heavy. They're hot. They're hot. Some people don't even seem to notice, but I'm averse to hot hats, of any kind. If I wasn't bald, I'd never wear a hat. As to location, location, location, I tend to live where it's hot, or humid, or hot and humid. And now, I live where it's almost always sunny, and at over 5000' elevation. So not only is the Sun hot, it's not having to cut through a lot of atmosphere. Stand outside talking to a neighbor for 15 minutes in the middle of the day can show up on your head bone. If I go up in the mountains, it's worse. 

I say again, though, a lot of people seem to love them. I can see where the northern coast of the USA they might be alright. Phoenix, Denver, hot and humid Michigan, another story. Now, all of those places in the mid-winter, maybe okay. 

[Bert03241]

Well I live near Phoenix and I've made 3 leather hats and wear them now and then. They keep the sun off my bald head. Yes their kinda hot but not that bad.

[maxdaddy]

I'm in Florida and wear my own leather hats all of the time. I've made several styles for myself and enjoy switching up the look.

I get comments on them and occasionally the question comes up of "how much I would charge to make one for them?" I never suggest that I make them to sell, but some folks think that I should be happy to make one for them with the same look for about $40. When I explain that there's about 8 hours worth of work that goes into one (depending on the style), plus the cost of the leather I say that if I did sell them I'd probably charge a couple hundred. I've never had anyone respond that they felt that a leather hat was worth that much. 

Hats are not something that I would be able to make and sell profitably in my area of Central Florida. It seems that most folks are happy to buy something mass-produced.

[Bert03241]

yea people have no idea what goes into leather work, and hats are labor intensive

[chuck123wapati]

14 hours ago, alpha2 said:

Here's my take on leather hats. They're heavy. They're hot. They're hot. Some people don't even seem to notice, but I'm averse to hot hats, of any kind. If I wasn't bald, I'd never wear a hat. As to location, location, location, I tend to live where it's hot, or humid, or hot and humid. And now, I live where it's almost always sunny, and at over 5000' elevation. So not only is the Sun hot, it's not having to cut through a lot of atmosphere. Stand outside talking to a neighbor for 15 minutes in the middle of the day can show up on your head bone. If I go up in the mountains, it's worse. 

I say again, though, a lot of people seem to love them. I can see where the northern coast of the USA they might be alright. Phoenix, Denver, hot and humid Michigan, another story. Now, all of those places in the mid-winter, maybe okay. 

and why people traditionally wore straw hats in summer and felt or leather in winter. Leather hats are ok used at the right times same as shoes. Summer isn't the right time to sell them for sure. unless maybe biker type head gear.

[Northmount]

If you are going to wear leather hats a lot in the summer, you need either a thick head of hair, or need to add some insulation so the hot leather doesn't lay on your bald head.  I often switch to a straw hat on hot sunny days.  Winter can be a problem too.  Frozen leather on a bald head is not too comfortable. 

Some of this depends on the hat style.  If there is no air gap between a bald head and the leather, the effects are really intensified.  I wear an Aussie style hat, low profile; the top rests on my head, so I can tell you current weather conditions!  I have at times folded a handkerchief and laid it on the the top of my head to prevent migraine headaches and heat stroke.

Felt cowboy hats can be problematic in the summer too.  There is good reason to have a selection of hats for the seasons.  That selection may include a straw hat, a felt or leather hat, and for cold winter climates (<0C or 32F) something with ear flaps to protect your ears,  as well as being able to protect your bald head. 

Then there's a picture of a cowboy out on a snowy windswept range with a bandana wrapped around his hat and ears.  Dual purpose, keep the hat from flying away, and keep his ears from freezing.

[CastleLeatherWorks]

I would love to see some pictures of these hats. while i would almost certainty not wear a leather hat im sure there might be a handful of people not opposed to such a thing.