Hat Care

Storing your hat
  • When being stored, your hat should not be exposed to excessive heat (particularly directly behind glass, i.e. vehicle) for long periods of time.
  • Hats should not be stored in direct sunlight
  • Hats with wider brims should be placed crown down on a clean surface such as on a table, a shelf, or in a hat box
  • If your hat is foldable, it should not be stored whilst folded
Handling your hat
  • For preservation of shape, handle your hat by the brim with clean hands rather than by the crown to pick up your hat
  • Excessive/forcible contact with the crown can cause it to deteriorate, distort, or weaken 
Cleaning and drying your hat 

Felt Hats

  • For regular staining, i.e. dust, grime, normal soiling, the hat can be treated at home. Brush the hat carefully in anti-clockwise circles and lightly rub the affected area with a recommended dry-cleaning fluid
  • For more serious stains such as oil or grease, it is sometimes recommended that felt hats be taken to a specialist cleaning outlet
  • If your hat becomes excessively wet, do not attempt to force-dry it by applying undue heat. If you have one, place a Hat Form (or some similar packing material) on the inside of the hat to help prevent any occurrences of shrinkage. The hat can then be allowed to dry naturally indoors
  • If travelling regularly to wetter regions, or if the hat is expected to be worn during periods of prolonged rain, it is sometimes recommended to apply a protective agent (i.e. Scotch Guard or similar) to help protect the hat against excessive moisture ingress
  • Should your felt hat become misshapen through accidental damage or misuse, the use of steam can help return the hat to its original shape. Taking all necessary safety precautions, the brim or crown of the hat can be carefully positioned directly above the source of steam, i.e. kettle or gently simmering hot water. When positioning the hat over steam, only a few seconds at a time is necessary for it to become receptive to being re-shaped. Reshaping can be achieved by first retreating from the heat source, then using your thumb and fingertips to pinch, re-position, and sculpt back into original its shape. Repeat as necessary. WARNING: Never allow your bare hands to come into direct contact with hot steam. Skin burns caused by water vapour can result in serious scalding and damage to the skin. Only the part of the hat you are treating should come into direct contact with the heat source. This can be safely achieved by holding the hat from such a position/distance where the steam does not come into contact with your hands. Protective hand-wear should be worn where necessary. Note: there are many online resources demonstrating the use of steam to reshape your felt hat if further information is required

    Straw Hats 

    • Everyday dirt can usually be removed using a small brush
    • For general stain removal, lightly rub the affected area with a damp warm cloth. Do not over-saturate the hat because straw, depending upon its quality, can lose its shape when subjected to excessive wetness and the shape of the hat may become distorted. Allow to dry indoors away from strong sunlight

    Panama Hats 

    • If stained, your Panama Hat should be spot-cleaned. Use a lightly damp cloth dipped in mild soapy water and pat-dry using a separate dry cloth. Strong chemical cleaning agents should not be used as they can cause discolouration
    • If your hat gets excessively wet, it should be dried as soon as possible to avoid any possibility of distortion/shrinkage. After using a dry cloth to gently wipe off the excess water, let the hat dry naturally indoors in a dry place. Artificial heat should not be applied as that may also cause shrinkage

    Canvas Hats

    • These hats can be gently hand-washed using a mild detergent. After hand-washing, rinse appropriately with clean water to completely remove any remnants of detergent
    • Hats should be allowed to dry indoors away from high levels of heat and humidity. No artificial heat should be applied
    • Machine wash is not recommended

    Natural fabrics (Linen, Cotton, Wool)

    • The above natural materials may shrink when wet, so for stains, they should simply be spot-cleaned with a stiff bristle brush, warm water, and a mild detergent (only if necessary). Allow to dry indoors in a dry place. No artificial heat should be applied

    Leather

    • If the hat becomes excessively wet, it helps to first use a dry sponge to absorb as much water as possible, then it can be left to dry naturally (preferably using a Hat Form or suitable packing materials)
    • Avoid over-exposure to artificial/extreme heat as this can cause the leather to dry out and become less flexible and stiffen
    • Leather hats should not be exposed to excessive heat (i.e. directly behind glass such as in your vehicle) for long periods of time
    • Leather conditioners can be applied intermittently to help maintain the hat's flexibility and natural qualities