Felt cloche hat

Felt cloche hat

Cloche hats emerged in the early 1900's and found their peak in the 1920's as part of the flapper ensemble

The hat matched the ideals of the flapper well, as women during that era were beginning to break free from social constructs and come into their own as independent and fierce. The bell-shaped cloche moved away from the classic soft feminine look by fitting close to the head like a helmet. Because it was so tight-fitting, women began to alter their hair style to accommodate the hat, and so short bobs and slick hair styles became the norm associated with the cloche. As the hat was pulled down tight over the eyebrows, decreasing visibility, women had to tilt their heads upwards and peer down, which further assisted in their stronger appearance and attitude. This depth of character is so prominent that to this day the cloche is a direct nod to the birth of bold feminine zeal and freedom.

As previously described, the cloche is a close-fitting hat that tapers outwards with a slight brim. Depending on design, the brim might hang down, angle out slightly, or be cut off completely at the eyes. The brim may extend just beyond the ears or come down to completely cover them. The more brim the hat has, the more decoration can be placed on the hat. However, minimal decoration is typically used, both to give proper attention to the hat's make as well as to emphasize the tightness to the head. One such example is that special attention may given to the seams where they are sewn with zigzag pattern. For additional decoration, patches of material (appliqués), beads, jewels, brooches, and other objects are sewn into the crown along the brim. Often accents such as feathers, scarves, or ribbons are attached on the right side. The cloche compliments smaller heads best.

The hat itself is traditionally made from wool or felt, but it is easily made in a variety of other materials as it is a flexible garment that merely should fit the head. For summer months, various straw versions are popular, and to refurbish or embellish the hat, the straw is painted in different colors. For elegant attire such as dance nights or special ceremonies, lace or beads may be used for the base of the cloche. Nowadays, comfortable cotton and knit versions are common as well. Regardless of materials, the process for making a cloche revolves around the hat block which provides a general guidance to the shape and size of the hat. With wool or felt, the material is steamed and pulled down over the hat block, shaped, and then trimmed. If sheets of material are used, often the material is cut into patterns and sewn together, and fitted over the hat block for additional shaping and for the addition of decoration and adornments. When the hat is sewn with straw, lace, or knitting, the block is used as a guide and afterwards it is used to adjust and set the final shape and size. Overall, the hat block serves only as a guide, as the majority of the materials for the hat are somewhat flexible and are made to be adjustable to the shape of the head. Modern versions involve an array of colors, decoration, and brim lengths.

My desire was to create beautiful hat cases, cases that combine elegance, functionality and refinement. For this, I called upon my friend, the very talented Brazilian designer Gabriela Goldschmidt De La Fuente. The main design objective was to create an image that reference the G in the Gedilva logo, perfectly representing the brand signature. Gabriela created a sleek and dynamic design in two colors that created strong visual recognition of the brand. The motifs representing a stylized G, refer back to the logo to give a very aesthetically appealing look.

I wanted the hat cases to be fabricated in France. French craftsmanship represents the highest manufacturing quality and expertise in luxury items. I selected Multi Services Carton in Paris, who have specialized in producing luxury packaging for many years. Each of my cases is made exclusively by hand with flawless manufacturing quality.

I wanted a case that would be representative of the quality of my brand, and that matched the style and panache of the hat within the case. When you purchase a Gedilva designed hat, you will possess a high fashion and high quality hat and case set that will accompany you throughout your life.