FUR FELT HATS: Use a Horsehair hat brush or a soft bristle brush in circular (counter clockwise) motions to remove hair/dust/dirt/particles. You may also use a lint roller for a little tune-up.

Spot clean your hat with a slightly damp sponge or cloth using warm water. Dap until clean. Be sure that the sponge/cloth and the water is clean. Also be sure that the cloth doesn’t have any dye that may be transferred onto your hat. Please allow your hat to dry naturally and do not use a blow dryer or expose the hat to heat.

For more severe and prevalent stains, we recommend taking your hat to a local hat repair shop for professional care.

PANAMA HATS: Gently brush your panama, using a bristle hat brush to remove hair/dust/dirt/particles.

Spot clean your hat with a slightly damp sponge or cloth using warm water. Dap until clean and leave to dry naturally. Do not get your Panama hat too wet, or else it may shrink.

Panama hats are very delicate and must be handled with extra care. To preserve the integrity of the crown, avoid grabbing your hat by the pinches or the crown. Instead, simply handle Panama hats by the brim when placing them on and off your head. This rule generally goes for all hats.

*If required, all hats made at THE FAT HATTER should be professionally cleaned and reshaped.

If your felt hat is looking dusty or dirty, take a brush to it. We recommend you use a horsehair brush, as those made with nylon bristles can be too abrasive for felt hats. A simple shoeshine brush can also do the trick. Investing in a brush specially made for hats may also be a better alternative. When brushing a light-colored fur felt hat, use a brush with light-colored bristles and vice versa for dark hats, as the color of the bristles may transfer on to the hat. 

Handling your hat properly will extend the life of your hat. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

NEVER touch your hat with dirty, oily hands. There is no quicker way to ruin your hat.

Always pick up your hat from underneath by both the front and back of the brim to maintain the original shape. Resting your hat on a coat rack/hat stand or hat-block, when not wearing it on your head, will make it easier to handle.

Avoid resting your hat on a flat surface for a prolonged time. Especially if it is a snap brim. To preserve the pitch or scope of the brim, let the lower front portion of the brim hang over the edge of any surface it is resting on. (If need be, rest your hat on its crown to avoid distortion of the brim.)

Avoid grabbing your hat by pinching the front dents. Pinching the front dents will cause it to reshape over time, and eventually may cause the felt to tear.

There are mainly three ways to store your Fur felt hat: on a shelf (on a flat surface), in a hat box, or hanging on a wall. 

ON A SHELF: If you decide to use this option as a more decorative way to store your hats, make sure that the depth of the shelf can accommodate your hats as any creasing of the brim will cause distress to the original shape. Also, when storing your hat on a shelf, be sure that the shelf is clean. We recommend flipping the hat upside down on its crown rather than laying it flat on its brim. Storing your hat on its brim for a long period will put pressure on the brim, which could lead it to change from its original shape over time. Avoid prolonged exposure to dust or direct sunlight; these are both damaging and can increase the likelihood of your hat being ruined or discolored.

 

HANGING IT ON THE WALL: When you’re a hat lover like us, we completely understand wanting to showcase your collection. This is a great way to make any room welcoming while adding some style. You can hang your hat on the wall using a nail, but if you choose to hang your hat, we suggest covering the tip of the nail with a cotton or foam ball so that the tip of the nail does not damage the hat. Be sure there is no direct sunlight wherever you decide to hang your hats.

 

STORE IN A HAT BOX: This is our suggested recommendation for storing your hat. Any hat purchased through our online store will be shipped in our protective hat box that is perfect for storing your hat properly. A cool, dry place out of direct sunlight is the best place for your hat box.

NOTE: Do not store your hat in a plastic bag for a long period of time. This will destroy your hat. The lack of air flow (oxygen) can cause your hat to rot or dry out. This applies to both fur felt hats and straw hats. When straw dries out it becomes brittle and breaks easily. We suggest a hat box or something similar that isn't airtight.

*Please note that if you plan on storing your hat away indefinitely, we highly recommend that you clean your hat properly prior to storing it away. This means brushing off any dust or other particles that might cause damage. This applies to all hat types both felt and straw.

For more information on how to determine your hat size, please scroll below to  “SIZE GUIDE & HOW TO MEASURE” section of this page.

Our hats are made to fit and do not have drawstrings. We do, however provide Hat Fillers (upon request)
that can be placed between the inner sweat band and the hat to tailor the size and fit of your new hat.

FUR FELT: All fur felt hats handcrafted at THE FAT HATTER is made using the highest quality materials. Each felt, thread, trimming, fabric, etc. is selected with extra care and attention to detail to bring about the finest quality hats available. If cared for properly, your FAT HATTER fur felt hat should last a lifetime and generations of wear. With that being said, although our hats are highly water repellent and weather resilient, our hats are NOT waterproof. Exposure to heavy rain showers may potentially ruin your fur felt hat in the long run. To preserve the integrity of the hat shape, we strongly advise not to get your hat wet, or wear your hat in the rain. If you do get caught in the rain without an umbrella, we recommend pat drying with a clean towel, or once you are indoors, find a place to hang your wet hat to dry naturally (Never use a blow-dryer or toss your hat in a dryer, EVER! Any other heat source to speed up the drying process will destroy your hat altogether). If your hat has a snap-brim, snap your brim in an upward position. Be sure that the sides of the brim are not touching anything, otherwise, it may alter the shape of the brim overtime.

 *If required, all hats made at THE FAT HATTER should be professionally re-blocked.

 

PANAMA: Our Panama hats are naturally dyed, and the color will change over time. This is not a defect, but rather an intentional design. As the color starts to change, they will form a unique pattern that adds character. Panama hats are porous and absorb moisture like a sponge. Although light rain is not a problem, we strongly advise not to wear your Panama hat, or any straw hats made of natural fibers, during heavy rain. If your Panama hat gets drenched, the fibers will swell, absorbing the moisture and your hat will lose its shape. If you Panama hat happens to get wet, either rest it upside-down on a flat surface, or hang it on a hat/coat rack to let it dry naturally. Do not put in front of a heat source. This will cause your Panama hat to shrink. The idea is to let it slowly dry out.

*If required, all hats made at THE FAT HATTER should be professionally re-blocked.