Handle it by the brim
Pick the hat up by the front and back of the brim, never by the crown. Crown handling is what collapses a centre crease over time — and it is the single most common way a good hat is ruined.
Brushing
Brush with a soft hat brush in a counter-clockwise direction, following the nap. Do it lightly and regularly rather than aggressively and rarely. Dust removed early never becomes a stain.
Rain and moisture
Beaver felt is naturally water-resistant and shrugs off light weather. If any felt hat gets genuinely wet, set it brim up on a clean surface, away from radiators, sunlight and hair dryers, and let it dry at room temperature. Heat is what warps felt, not water.
Storage
Store the hat upside down on its crown or on a hat stand, out of direct light, somewhere dry. Never leave it sitting on the brim under weight, and never leave it in a hot car for a season.
Travel
Wool recovers well from travel; that is one of its strengths. Pack the hat crown-down, fill the crown with soft items to support the shape, and reshape the crease with your fingers when you arrive.
The feather
Hand-selected turkey feathers are a natural material. Keep them dry, smooth them with your fingers along the grain, and store the hat where the feather is not pressed flat.
Common questions
Answered by the house.
- Can I steam a felt fedora at home?
- Light steaming can help reshape felt, but hold the hat well away from the source and work slowly. When the hat matters, bring it to a fitting and have it reshaped properly.
- How do I clean a mark off felt?
- Start with a soft brush along the nap. Avoid water and solvents on felt — they set marks rather than remove them.
- Is it bad to leave a hat on its brim?
- Yes. Resting a hat on its brim flattens and eventually distorts it. Store it crown-down or on a stand.
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