About

My passion for hats began at a very early age; I can remember watching films such as Paint Your Waggon, Indiana Jones and Oliver! where each character wore a distinctive hat; it was easy for me to emulate these characters simply by donning a hat – no need for the whole costume or elaborate props! What began with paper, Sellotape and scissors has turned into a profession, using a hybrid of traditional and modern methods to realise the finest quality, easily wearable and distinctive hats available in the world today.

My hats combine the perfect balance of fine materials and radical shapes; the most striking, yet coherent relationship of proportions. This has been learned from many years of handling beautiful vintage hats from the greatest makers of yesteryear - Dunn & Co. Borsellino, Lincoln Bennett, Lock and Co. Dobbs, Battersby, Walter Barnard, Henry Heath, Herbert Johnson to name a few of my favourites. From careful observation, I have been able to distil the essence of these great hat makers and apply subtle enhancements to create my own distinctive collection. All my hats are formed on my own proprietary blocks that I also handcraft entirely myself. Working in this way, I have no bounds to my vision. During the process, I can also adapt and discover new ideas, ensuring the process is an organic, free-flowing and entirely creative one.

I have a love affair with the English snap-brim of the 1930s; specifically hats made by Dunn & Co. I have studied examples of this hat and set about making a series of blocks to accentuate some of the significant lines and proportions. Characteristic of my hats are slightly higher crowns, an amplified reverse taper and very slightly larger wider brims than the originals from which I take my inspiration. In so doing, I am careful not to create a caricature of the original; I provide the wearer with something that is not derivative but an homage to the original with a modern twist. My motivation is to create hats with a distinct quality and style; simultaneously elegant and rugged.

While there are many excellent custom and small Hatters based throughout the world, I believe I offer something entirely unique.

I am among a very small number of Hatters to make my own hat blocks as well as leather sweatbands and liners. Creating my own unique hat blocks exclusive to my brand ensures a degree of protection from imitation and delivers you a hat which is sure to be unique.

Furthermore, it is my promise to create only one piece of each design. Many of the raw materials used in my hats is “new-old-stock” and I spend many hours exploring old haberdashers and stockists throughout the lands to purchase rare and unique materials. I source all of the ribbons and bindings myself, and whenever I identify a source, I limit my purchase to one or two metres at most of each trimming. This further guarantees the uniqueness of each hat, and forcibly limits the number of hats which I can make with similar characteristics.

From time to time, I also re purpose and rework my hat blocks and so some of the shapes are limited to one piece; rendering it impossible for me to block any more hats with the same shape.

Unlike other hat makers who will allow customers to design and customise their own hats, I offer a coherent collection of carefully designed hats ready to wear. I often liken this experience this to vintage shopping – the shopper is encouraged to remain open minded, let go of preconception and is invited to adapt, innovate and utilise what is available!

To this end, I only ever make a hat that I would wear personally. It is my vision to develop hats that are naturally “right- feeling” and I will never release a piece for sale that I would not be proud to be seen wearing and have attributed to my brand.

Every hat will also change and develop character over its life; whilst in-use, hats will naturally change colour and shape depending on their environment and each will weather and age in a unique way. I encourage you to enjoy the journey with your hat and to customise and alter it to suit your requirements. Most importantly, be yourself and have fun!


Sincerely, William Keel-Stocker