This is a fine quality 100% fur felt fedora designed by Pierre Cardin during the 1960s and made for Cardin by venerable French milliner Fléchet. Fléchet was founded in 1859 by Gabriel Fléchet in a town called Chazelles-sur-Lyon, near Saint-Etienne. Fléchet quality of that era, and prior, is put on a par with Italian milliner Borsalino. The hat is made in an attractive tone of brown with greyish brown grosgrain band and edge trim. It has a turned brim, similar to a homburg, but with an irregular width - much wider at the front than at the back. The interior top of the crown is lined in a black satin lining that is gold stamped “Création Pierre Cardin Paris Réalisée Par Fléchet”. The black leather sweatband is also stamped in gold with “Création Pierre Cardin Paris Réalisée Par Fléchet”, as well as with “100% Fur Felt Made in France”. The size label reads 7 1/4 - the opening measures 22 3/4” around the sweatband. The brim measures 2 1/2” in width at the back, 2 3/4” and at the sides and 3 1/4” at the front - the crown has a height of 5”. It is in excellent condition and looks unused, even though it is pre-owned - there is a very slight bit of mottling visible on the under brim, but this is really minor and mentioned only in the interest of full disclosure. This hat has been well kept in a Biltmore hat box with plastic liners for the top and interior - the box is included with the hat even though not original. The 100% fur felt is very soft and pliable. Pierre Cardin was known as a fashion innovator during the 1960s, designer of the collarless suit jacket worn by the Beatles and credited with reviving the fedora hat during the 60s by narrowing the brim to match the narrower lapels being used on suit jackets.
This is an exceptional quality hat.....great style, 100% fur felt, unique brim, and excellent acquisition if it fits!