Correct, and it's really ironic...

Posted by Patterson from 63.104.29.91 on August 09, 2000 at 15:16:32:

In Reply to: If you have ever wondered why Gary White's Indy fedoras are so expensive, read on... posted by Fedora on August 09, 2000 at 14:56:06:

: I have griped here before about the price of his hats, and until recently, just assumed he was gouging his customers. I believe now that I was wrong. I think his hats are expensive simply because he uses a beaver/mink blend felt. After visiting several custom hat sites, it became obvious that beaver and mink are much higher than rabbit, or hare. 100% beaver starts at about $700.00 and goes up. I found several sites that offered their mink/beaver blend at around $500.00. Rabbit or hare ran from $150.00 to $225.00. I never paid much attention to the felt on my hats, just the color, really. I pulled out my GW fedora, and it is clear that the mink is a much finer grade, when compared to the Akubras, Millers, and Peter Bros. This difference isn't important to me, especially since the HJ is rabbit. Anyhow, just thought I'd pass this little tidbit on. Regards, Fedora

It's ironic because the Rabbit is more durable, less prone to shrinkage, and generally holds it's shape better then either beaver or mink. I still think there is a bit of a profit margin issue, but I think that has to do with his general clientel - beaver and mink are more suited towards the high-end gentleman's hat market.

So then try and explain HJ. Their hat is 100% rabbit - they cannot sell beaver blends as the animal is endangered in the UK.

Oh, man! Now I'm going to ####-off the hat crowd! Just kidding!

Cheers!

Patterson

Follow Ups:

Re: Correct, and it's really ironic... West 07:49:22 8/10/2000 (1)
- Akubra's too... Patterson 11:20:21 8/10/2000 (0)

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: :    I have griped here before about the price of his hats, and until recently, just assumed he was gouging his customers. I believe now that I was wrong. I think his hats are expensive simply because he uses a beaver/mink blend felt. After visiting several custom hat sites, it became obvious that beaver and mink are much higher than rabbit, or hare. 100% beaver starts at about $700.00 and goes up. I found several sites that offered their mink/beaver blend at around $500.00. Rabbit or hare ran from $150.00 to $225.00. I never paid much attention to the felt on my hats, just the color, really. I pulled out my GW fedora, and it is clear that the mink is a much finer grade, when compared to the Akubras, Millers, and Peter Bros. This difference isn't important to me, especially since the HJ is rabbit. Anyhow, just thought I'd pass this little tidbit on.   Regards, Fedora

: It's ironic because the Rabbit is more durable, less prone to shrinkage, and generally holds it's shape better then either beaver or mink.  I still think there is a bit of a profit margin issue, but I think that has to do with his general clientel - beaver and mink are more suited towards the high-end gentleman's hat market.

: So then try and explain HJ.  Their hat is 100% rabbit - they cannot sell beaver blends as the animal is endangered in the UK.

: Oh, man!  Now I'm going to ####-off the hat crowd!  Just kidding!

: Cheers!

: Patterson

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