Good enough for a person that you love?

Marc · Post by **Marc** » Mon May 12, 2008 6:12 am

Dear all,

a friend of mine asked me to make a hat as a birthday present for his father. In Ecuador they say, that if you give a hat to someone, it is a sign for a lifelong friendship. So though to some this might only be a hat, for me the symbolics behind having a hat specially made for a person you love is quite a bit more.

I was asked to make this a classic - non Indy - hat with a bound brim and a matching 45mm ribbon on the crown. I've never spent as much time on a bound brim as on this one... what I did - in order to make it truly special - is I hand sew the ribbon to the brim using LOCK STITCHES, so the thread looks like a solid line both on the upper and the underside of the brim. Finally I was able to discuss the details for the bow and the knot with my friend and he decided to go with this one.

Being used to higher crown of an Indy Fedora, this one looks a LITTLE too flat for my PERSONAL taste however my wife tells me that this hat finally DOESN'T remind her of a top hat, so I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder. I believe that a CS Fedora with a dim. cut and bound brim and this 45mm ribbon would look KILLER, however this is not the point right here and now.

The reason I show this here, is that the friend of mine will be able to tell me whether he or (more important yet) his father likes the hat the way it is yet, or if I should rather throw it on the block again and re-style it.

Enjoy,

Marc

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e132/ ... ne01-1.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e132/ ... ne02-1.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e132/ ... ne03-1.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e132/ ... ne04-1.jpg

indiana smith · Post by **indiana smith** » Mon May 12, 2008 7:23 am

That's a great looking hat! Good work Marc.

Indiana Greg · Post by **Indiana Greg** » Mon May 12, 2008 8:13 am

WHIPPIT GOOD!
What a lovely hat! Very nice!

gabrielle · Post by **gabrielle** » Mon May 12, 2008 8:15 am

Wow!!! Beautiful hat Marc, I'm sure the father will love it.

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Mon May 12, 2008 9:42 am

That is a fine looking hat. I'm sure he will love it.

Dave

mufflowne · Post by **mufflowne** » Mon May 12, 2008 10:00 am

Marc, I love you too! Can you make ME one?

Seriously though, amazing work. You're a hat wizard!

PyramidBlaster · Post by **PyramidBlaster** » Mon May 12, 2008 11:04 am

Better slap a name on this one, Marc...You're gonna start getting orders for it!

Really a beauty!

Luke Warmwater · Post by **Luke Warmwater** » Mon May 12, 2008 11:06 am

Man, I'd go nuts if someone gave me such a great hat. Agreeden, you need to name it, 'cause people will want one. I want one.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Mon May 12, 2008 11:22 am

I think you shouldn't send it to him, Marc. Send it to me, instead.

jkingrph · Post by **jkingrph** » Mon May 12, 2008 12:33 pm

I would be most honored to receive that as a gift. I absolutely love the blocking.

Now If I were ordering I would prefer a much narrower binding on the brim, but that's just me.

It is simply beautiful.

Fletch · Post by **Fletch** » Mon May 12, 2008 1:02 pm

Wow, real nice job on the bound edge Marc! Thats the best "by hand" job I have seen ever. Thats inspirational work right there! Your friend's dad is going to be thrilled with that handiwork.
Fletch

serrecuir · Post by **serrecuir** » Mon May 12, 2008 2:47 pm

Marc,

That's a gorgeous hat! I love the fact that it's Indy-inspired but takes on its' own persona. Your friend's dad is going to be speechless when he opens that gift on his birthday! Wow! I'm envious.

-Craig

Johnny Fedora · Post by **Johnny Fedora** » Mon May 12, 2008 7:58 pm

That is one beautiful hat Marc. Really something else. And I agree with PyramidBlaster,she needs a name. May I recomend The Ecuador?

Johnny

Super Sleuth · Post by **Super Sleuth** » Mon May 12, 2008 8:17 pm

Multi Bennay (or however you spell it) as for a name I suggest two. Either the Indy Comic hat (for the comic book bash) or The Noir.

Arkansas Russell · Post by **Arkansas Russell** » Mon May 12, 2008 8:21 pm

Slap the monkey Marc!!!!
You did great!!!
Fantastic looking fedora you made there!!!!

I suggest..
THE ADVENTUREBILT STYLIST.

Indiana Kev · Post by **Indiana Kev** » Mon May 12, 2008 8:24 pm

Beautiful hat! I'd be proud to give that as a gift...although I don't think I'd be able to give it away. I agree that it needs a really cool name.

indiana smith · Post by **indiana smith** » Mon May 12, 2008 8:47 pm

I think it should be named after the guy you're giving it to.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Mon May 12, 2008 9:18 pm

indiana smith wrote:I think it should be named after the guy you're giving it to.

The binkmeister™? 8-[

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Tue May 13, 2008 12:21 am

binkmeisterRick wrote:
indiana smith wrote:I think it should be named after the guy you're giving it to.
The binkmeister™? 8-[

If he did he would have to pay you for the right to use the name bink.

great looking hat Marc. you did another masterfull job as always.

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Tue May 13, 2008 12:55 am

indiana smith wrote:I think it should be named after the guy you're giving it to.

I think that would be very nice.

I also think that this is one of the most beautiful hats I've seen on this board. The texture of the felt, the bound edge, the bash, the crown, everything comes together in such an original looking, fresh way (not just fresh being non-Indy). It's a gorgeous hat, and if I were the man wearing it, I would be proud of that hat.

Excellent work, Marc. Ausgezeichnet!

Shane

Kaplan · Post by **Kaplan** » Tue May 13, 2008 2:02 am

Hey guys...it already has a name. It's an "Aviator" and it's modeled after the style of hat that Howard Hughes wore. Marc has made this type of hat before search "aviator". And, yes... Marc! Beautiful job on that hat! Your friend's father will be very happy.

Kaplan · Post by **Kaplan** » Tue May 13, 2008 2:05 am

indiana smith wrote:I think it should be named after the guy you're giving it to.

Actually...I like that better. How about the "Dr. Kaplan Sr."

Marc · Post by **Marc** » Tue May 13, 2008 2:19 am

Thanks for all your kind words Gentlemen!!! I really appreciate them highly and they almost make me forget my sore fingertips

The hat here has a slightly lower crown than the Aviators I've done before and due to it being something really special, I aggree on giving it its own name. "Kaplan Sr." fits the bill very well

Looking forward to working on a Kaplan jr. later

Regards,

Marc

bleyd · Post by **bleyd** » Tue May 13, 2008 2:45 am

Came out real good. Lots of character. Love a hat with good character. I see alot of hats at the stores that really don't have any at all. This looks like a well made hat that will truly be well loved as it should be.

Good enough for a person that you love?

Good enough for a person that you love?

WHIPPET