Akubra is the only major hat company making fur felt hats from start to finish, beginning with
the raw skins through all the processes of preparing the fur, forming the hood, dyeing, blocking
and pouncing the hat to the final trimming. Their control of the entire process allows them to
produce an exceptional quality of fur felt.
The quality of Akubra’s felt is attested to by the fact that they have no need for the colored powders used by many manufacturers to even out the
color and hide flaws in the felt.
Akubra® Hats have been Australia’s quality hats since the beginning of the 20th
century, ever since Arthur P. Stewart set up to make a hat to meet the needs of this bustling new
colony. Australians in the earlier days, much like the Americans of the West, needed better hats
than the usual, and, like the Americans, they had to make them for themselves. Akubra hats
stood the test of life on the cattle stations and droving routes. Akubra hats still stand the test,
not only in Australia, but throughout the world. You will see them wherever you travel.
Akubra has an up-to-date plant, and a dedication to quality that comes only with an owner operated
company. Some of the distinctive features of Akubra hats are:
Fur Felt
The basic fur in a felt hat is the under-fur of rabbits, and the quality of this
fur is a prime factor in the quality of the hat produced. Fur from wild rabbits gives the best
quality. Akubra not only uses more wild rabbit fur in their hats than any other hat company,
but also a better fur, as they cut their own fur from the skins, keeping control of quality of the
hats from start to finish.
Akubra produces four felt qualities. Their standard quality, with a worldwide reputation for
durability, is offered in two finishes, the Imperial Quality, used in most of the standard hats we
offer, and the Superfine Quality, used in the Aussie Slouch. The Sydney is made from a lighter
weight felt, using a finer fur, with a finish similar to the Imperial Quality. Their premium
quality, developed recently for the Heritage Collection, is very much in the Akubra tradition,
a stronger, more dense felt for even greater durability, which also allows a finer pouncing for a
superb finish. Pliofelt is the new pliable fur felt used in Akubra’s Lifestyle Collection of packable
hats.
Reeded Leather Sweatbands
The leather sweatband inside the hat is the only part which touches the head and hence is the key to a comfortable hat. Good leathers are breathable,
soft and absorbent. In the best hats the leathers are “reeded” in order to conform better to
the head. A reed, once a thin piece of rattan, but now commonly a thin plastic fibre, is encased
in an impervious ribbon of oiled silk or synthetic material, and attached to the bottom of the
leather. The ribbon helps to keep perspiration from staining the body of the hat. The reeded
leather sweatbands used by Akubra are made of the finest roan sheepskin, specially tanned to
ensure comfort.
Great Australian Style
These hats are genuine Akubras, made in Australia and built
for durability. Australians spend a lot of time outdoors. To protect themselves from the harsh
sunlight they wear hats as a matter of course, and they expect their hats to last. Australians give
hats rough treatment -- fan the fire, water the dog, or gather the chooks’ eggs, an Akubra is
expected to handle it all, day in and day out, year in and year out. You can buy Akubras with
confidence, knowing their quality and style are top-notch.
Pre-creased Akubra® Hats:
All our standard pre-creased Akubra fur
felt hats have high quality reeded leather sweatbands, full linings, and
chin strap hooks set inside the crown for easy attachment of a chin
strap. The fur felt is Akubra’s Imperial Quality pure fur felt.
Open Crown Akubra® Hats
Back when hat stores were common
most hats were sold with open crowns. The crease, or bash, would
be put in for the customer by the salesman at the time of purchase.
These days almost all hats sold have pre-creased crowns. For those of
you who still want an individualized bash, we
offer a number of open crown hats from Akubra. You can shape the crown to suit, then, when
the hat is damp from the rain, make any final adjustments and let the
hat dry.
Akubra’s Lifestyle Collection
Akubra’s Lifestyle Collection hats use
Pliofelt, a soft, pliable, pure fur felt developed specifically for crushable
hats. The crowns are unlined with fabric sweatbands to allow the
hats to be packed.
The Heritage Collection
The Heritage Collection presents a line of
premium quality hats developed by Akubra®. The felt in these hats
is made from a select blend of specially graded furs of rabbit and
hare which permit a longer and more arduous shrinking process.
This process develops 25% more shrinkage, producing a denser and
stronger felt, which in turn provides the basis for a superb pounced
finish.
The leather for the sweatbands is tanned from selected skins, for an
exceptional quality. The bands themselves are cut wider than normal
to ensure the greatest comfort. The Heritage Collection hats are in
all ways premium hats in the Akubra tradition, superb long lasting
felt with outstanding leather sweatbands.
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