Introduction
It is no accident that the first thing you buy when you pick up a costume as an extra for a TV show is a hat. But the fun comes from the other stuff – hats must both look great and provide some use in terms of either shade from the sun, warmth in the cold or, simply, wearable appeal. And comfort and fit are key route to delivering this. This guide looks at how fabric comfort and fit properties influence the use of headwear, by exploring the important factors of comfort and fit.
Importance of Comfort and Fit in Hats
There are a lot of reasons to wear a hat. It might be to keep the sun off your face, or to keep warm in winter. Maybe you like to wear a hat to add some flair to an outfit (I certainly do!). No matter the reason, comfort and fit are paramount. If a hat is unfit for the wearer, or in any other way uncomfortable, it very quickly becomes painful. Headaches can result from an ill-fitting hat, or skin pain, or just a discomfort achieved throughout the day. A well-fitted, comfortable hat offers confidence to the wearer and is an important consideration for any aficionado.
Overview of the Role of Fabric
Fabric type will have a big influence over hat comfort and fit The type of fabric, besides having an important impact over the appearance of a hat, will also have a big influence over its comfort and fit. Different fabrics have physical properties that can make them more or less breathable, soft, stretchy and flexible. Being aware of those properties is a great help for hat makers and hat wearers to find the right fabric for their exceptional (human and hat!) comfort.
- Fabric Properties Affecting Comfort
Breathability
Breathability means how well a fabric permits air and moisture to pass through it, therefore controlling the circulation of air to keep the head cool and ventilated as well as evaporating moisture effectively. Hat must be breathable in missionary during high summertime in order to prohibit the accumulation of heat and sweat underneath it and make sure your head can “breathe” correctly. Breathability is critically important. The best breathable fabrics are cotton and linen: they widely use in hats.
Softness and Texture
A soft fabric is also essential to a comfortable hat. Comfort is mainly a result of tactile sensations, and a softer fabric creates fewer points of friction with the skin – reducing the chance of irritation and discomfort. Texture also influences comfort: smooth textures are generally more comfortable than rougher or pointier textures. The fabrics we recognize for their softness (such as silk and cashmere) tend to be considered luxurious precisely for their ability to caress the skin. These fabrics tend to make the best materials for hats designed to be worn for extended periods of time.
Stretch and Flexibility
As demonstrated by stretchy fabrics, flexibility provides elasticity which affords adaptability and responsiveness to varying head diameters. It is also a means by which one can ensure that your hat fits comfortably, so that, for example, if your head increases in size as you receive a forehead injury, a stretchy, elasticated headgear would adjust accordingly with some slack, so that it doesn’t feel over-tight and compress all the blood vessels in your forehead, leaving you at risk of brain injury. In this regard, fabric properties that encourage flexibility of the headgear are vital. Fabrics such as elastane or spandex are key here as they offer stretch.
Fabric plays a huge role in hat comfort and fit: hats that are made from breathable and soft stretchy fabrics will be the most comfortable. With this knowledge, it is clear how aware a hat maker needs to be about the properties of fabrics in order to make comfortable hats. As hats have been worn throughout history for their practical and ornamental benefits, there is no reason for them to disappear; instead, people who wear hats should be aware of the role that fabric plays in hat comfort and be individually responsible for wearing an item that will be comfortable for them. This will surely help in upholding the popularity of this vintage trend in the future.
Fabric Properties Affecting Fit
Fit is the thing when it comes to hats. A well-fitting cap will not only be comfortable, but will hold its shape and structure over time. A broad set of fabric properties largely determine how a hat will fit and feel on the wearer’s head, so this article will go through three important areas of fabric characteristics affecting fit: structure and stability; weight and thickness; and durability and resilience. Finally, specific hat styles will be discussed and the cover considerations associated with them.
Structure and Stability
How Fabric Structure Affects Hat Shape
Fabric structure: Covers how fibres (yarns) are woven and/or knit together to form the structure of the fabric. This is significant because a fabric that is more tightly woven or knit into a shape will offer more structure and stability and, as such, can create hats that can maintain a shape.
Stability’s Role in Maintaining Hat Form
Without stability one would never be able to hold on to the proportions of the hat and its silhouette. If the hat has a stable fibre, it will keep its shape even after wearing it for a long time. This is important if you wear a structured hat such as a fedora or top hat, because for the hat to continue looking good as well as fit its wearer, it needs to still share the shape it has.
Examples of Stable Fabrics
Wool Felt: Made from densely packed fibres, making it structurally sound and stable — great for fedoras and bowlers.
Denim: I like the hardwearing, tough feel of denim because it feels stable, and the hats aren’t going to flop. The denim has a bit of a ruffian thing about it but it’s still quite smart.Denim hats are very casual, but still cool.
Weight and Thickness
Impact of Fabric Weight on Hat Comfort
Fabric weight refers to the heaviness or density of the fabric. The heaviness of the fabric affects hat comfort directly: heavier fabrics tend to feel burdensome and tiring on the head, whereas lightweight fabrics feel comfortable and leave a more pleasant sensation on the head.
Thickness’s Influence on Bulkiness and Shape
This third quality determines the bulkiness of the hat and consequently the volume of its silhouette. Thicker fabrics make the fabric volume increase (and therefore the silhouette), whereas thick fabrics can make the hat feel bulky and less nice to wear.
Examples of Lightweight Fabrics
Polyester: Lightweight and breathable, a polyester hat is a great choice if you’re looking for something that’s suitable for active or outdoor wear. Polyester hats are comfortable and easy to move in, without sacrificing durability.
Nylon: Very light and hard-wearing, nylon textiles are valued for their versatility and durability. Hats made from nylon are excellent for travelling or outdoor activities, keeping heads warm and dry without burdening the wearer.
Durability and Resilience
Importance of Durable Fabrics for Long-lasting Wear
Durability is important in hat fabrics for hats intended for daily or outdoor use. A durable fabric allows a hat to withstand daily use, and therefore keep the hat looking good for years, as well as retain its shape even after regular wear. Likewise, a resilient fabric means that it is likely to bounce back from wear and tear, and keep its integrity and shape for a long period of time.
Resilience’s Role in Withstanding Wear and Tear
The filaments in resilient fabrics are tightly packed together and don’t easily separate, which is why such fabrics are used in hats that are often taken on and off or have to deal with the elements. Resilient fabrics make hats that are continually subject to wear and tear last longer because the fibres’ resilient nature allows the hat to retain its original shape and colour longer than a hat made of less resistant material.
Examples of Durable Fabrics
Leather: Characterised by its durability and endurance, leather is a stylistic staple for hats that require ruggedness and resiliency. From baseball caps to English country caps, leather derbies to trooper hats, leather hats develop a patina with age and wear that adds to their character and allure.
Canvas: Durable yet lightweight, this natural fabric is known for its strength and versatility. It serves as the basis for classic outdoor gear and accessories such as canvas hats, which are ideal for outdoor exploration in even the harshest environments.
Considerations for Specific Hat Styles
Baseball Caps
Preferences: Fabrics are usually (micro) moisture-wicking as in polyester or cotton blends lightweight with high spirit.They‘ll keep the wearers dry from sweat while skillfully playing.
Fedora Hats
Fabric issues: Fedoras are typically constructed of timeless structured materials, such as wool felt and tweed, in order to create and support their classic look and profile.
Sun Hats
Fabric choices: Lightweight and breathable fabrics like straw or UPF-protected fabrics are essential for your sun hat to protect you from UV rays without being uncomfortable.
Fabric considerations can be broken down in several ways: what type of fabric structure, including the fabric’s stability when worn, works best for your hat? What about weight and thickness? Is your head warmer wearing a two-sided felt that retains heat and must be sweated-in vs a high-loft fur felt that is substantially lighter that remains lofty and retains its full shape? Also, how important is the durability and resilience of your hat fabric? Just like with everything else, hat designs improve each year, with new hats having new considerations In short, it depends on the situation, whose head you’re putting it on, where on their head you intend to put it, for how long you want it to look good, and whether it’ll continue to look good after that length of time. But those are just the basics. A few years ago, the British family behind one of the country’s oldest hat manufacturing firms released a list of ‘250+ secrets to millinery success’. Like a sparkling new intended for a Bunco or Gathering party, the hostess with the most-est embellished this lavish, scroll-worthy guide with her own line items, segueing from entity to entity. More than a thousand designer milliners, retailers, mentors and up-and-comers from all over the world gathered around tables to exchange secrets and ideas in a spirit akin to that of a meeting of Masons. Because, in reality, a lot goes on behind the scenes of a hat. Just how much? Those secrets were revealed in 2018 at the British Hat Guild’s Millinery Show and Competition, an event that welcomes suppliers from all over Europe and the US.
Considerations for Specific Hat Styles
There are various styles of hat out there to suit all kinds of occasions. They are made of different materials and each one has its own particular features and trimmings that will be gained or restricted by the fabric that it is being made out of. The baseball cap, the fedora, the sun hat, each one can vary in construction and use so each type requires different considerations for the fabric that’s used to make it, but it’s all in the details. In this guide, we go over the most important considerations for three popular styles of hats: the baseball cap, the fedora and the sun hat.
Baseball Caps
Baseball caps are the queens (or kings!) of all the hat styles. They have a classic round crown and stiff brim, which makes them perfect for everyday use and outdoor activities: baseball games, hiking or just for fun, as a casual accessory. No wonder they need fabrics that are comfortable, durable and moisture-wicking.
Fabric Preferences
Moisture-Wicking Fabrics: Baseball caps are commonly worn during physical activities, which makes sweat-wicking fabrics necessary. These fabrics work by drawing sweat away from the skin to keep it cool and dry even in high-humidity temperatures. For instance, polyester or cotton blends are essential to keep the wearer comfortable.
Polyester is a good baseball cap material because it is light, breathable and dries quickly. Polyester caps are good for lots of activities because they are tough and easy to care for.
Cotton Blends: Get all the comfort of a cotton cap with added stretch and durability. Cotton Blends are soft, lightweight and breathable to be comfortable all day.
Fedora Hats
Fedoras are formal, sophisticated, wise, cool, tasteful. I can’t help but associate a trenchcoat and a fedora whenever I think of detectives. I can’t help but think of men from the days of yore – conquerors, kings, and dreamers. And, of course, hipsters.All of this represents the high-class appeal of fedoras. The fedora evokes old-world romance and panache. Its pinched crown, wide brim, and band – fedoras only have this band, which sets them apart – make them immediately recognisable and, to me, elegant. But we have to remember that for a fedora to even look like a fedora, it has to be made out of materials that are quite firm and allow the hat to retain its shape and silhouette.
Fabric Considerations
Wool Felt: Wool felt is the typical fabric used to create classic fedora hats. Wool felt is constructed with tightly packed fibres and fibre bundles. This tight packing contributes to its structure and stability, such that the hat retains its shape over time. Furthermore, the insulation provided by the wool meets a typical desire for cooler weather.
Tweed: Tweed fedoras are great if you’re looking for sturdiness and texture. Usually made of wool or wool blends, tweed hats have rustic appeal and make a solid choice for fall and winter.
Sun Hats
Sun hats are must haves for outdoor activities and every sunny day, they provide shade and UV protection while spending a day doing leisure or sports in the sun. Activities that benefit from sun hats are: lying at a clear pool, exploring the beach, gardening in the back yard, climbing a mountain, playing a sport at the park, a picnic in a bush. To make sun hats a comfortable and efficient sun protection, the use of light and airy materials enhance UPF protection.
Fabric Choices
Straw: You can’t think about summer style without thinking of a straw hat! Straw hats can be woven from all sorts of natural fibres, like raffia or straw. The natural fibres and open weave allow air to circulate, making straw hats quick-drying and very breathable and ventilated – perfect for hot weather! Straw hats also boast UPF protection, which means they shade the face and neck from harsh UV rays.
A wide-brimmed sun hat fabric in fashion from UPF-treated fabrics is a must. UV protection factor (UPF)-treated fabrics are specifically created to block UV radiation equally well on both sides of the fabric. UPF-treated sun hats are typically lightweight, breathable and quick-drying, thereby making them a great choice for outdoor activities and travel.
Sometimes though, choosing the correct fabric is a critical – if subtly significant – aspect of hat design. And this is especially important when we talk about baseball hats, fedora hats and sun hats. Different styles of hat are made from different types of fabrics. This is particularly true when you think of fabric versatility in terms of issues like moisture-wicking, structure, energy-preservation and breathable freshness. The fabrics used for baseball cap construction (non-irritating moisture-wicking polyester), fedora hat books (a dense, exclusive and structured fabric like wool felt) and straw sun hats (simple, breathable and natural fabric in the form of thatch), are about more than style. They also shape the way each of these styles actually works in distinct settings and conditions. I hope you hat-lovers continue exploring all the varieties of fabric that give hats their appearance and character. But please remember one golden rule: always choose your fabric for style and use, not for choose your sensitive skin alone.
