"L'élégant" hat

The Fedora

The Fedora is probably one of the most popular and iconic hats of the 20^th century. Although originally made for a female, the hat quickly jumped the ranks among men and became one of the signature looks that represent the early to mid-1900s.

Although it can be seen as a modern stylish hat, certain variations depending on the wearer can result in a direct nod to the historical past. It is so standard that at times the word “fedora” can refer to hats in general, despite representing a specific style. This may be a result of the hat being an all around standard for size, shape, and practicality. The hat is designed to cover the head, resting just above the ears, and should have a comfortable, if only slightly loose fit, so as not to leave marks when removed. The crown may have different degrees of tapering depending on the style or custom request of the wearer, and it has variations of creases or pinches, specifically in the center of the crown, which give it its signature look. Additionally, the hat has a moderate, slightly wider brim that comes out with only a slight curl upwards.

The hat is used for practical reasons such as protection against wind, rain, or sun. The indentations in the crown, which can vary based on design or the wearer's preference, are also useful in being able to take the hat by the crown instead of the brim. The length of the brim provides general protection without being as much of an obstruction as larger brimmed hats might be. Fedoras can be made from various materials which each have their own advantage. A hat made from fur felt will be naturally water proof, while wool felt will provide more warmth in colder climates. Similar to a Panama hat, a straw fedora will be lighter and more breathable for warm climates.

Fedoras can be made from wool or fur felt, cotton, straw, hemp, linen or leather. Their production process is similar to Derby hats in that the material is steamed and pressed or stretched over a hat block to give it its unique and durable shape. A ribbon is sewn along the edge of the brim to support it, and the decorative band is attached to the base of the crown, along with any additional decoration. Usually an inner lining is sewn on the inside along with a sweat band. When adjustments to the hat size need to be made because it is too big, pads or cushions are often attached along the insides of the sweatbands.

Fedoras can be seen in a range of colors, but appear most classy when they are more earthy colors such as black, brown, tan, grey, olive, or navy. In addition to the wide range of colors that fedoras come in, the stylistic decoration can compliment or distinguish the design further. Fedoras are commonly garnished with a band around the base of the crown, which may be ribbon, leather, or cord of another material, and another piece placed over the seam of the band. This additional piece is often seen in the form of a bow, a pin, or a feather. The combination of these colors is nearly endless, as one might go for a moderate cord the same color as the hat, with a bow, or they might enhance a tan hat with a bright orange feather.

Choosing the right hat and understanding how they come. As mentioned earlier, the indentations in the crown are either based on design or the preference of the wearer. For this reason, sometimes the fedora hat will be creased or pinched during production, and other times they may come with the crown fully open for the client to create the creases on their own at home. Certain versions of the hat can also be folded and packed easily because of the blocking process during production, but this is only advised for travel and not for everyday storage.

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.