Bespoke Headwear By Satya Twena. We’re Reaching Peak Hat

Bespoke Hats Are Back And Better Than Ever

There’s something special about a Hat. Not a baseball cap or a skip cap or a beanie, but a Hat. The majestic crowning glory that richly deserves a capital H.

No self-respecting woman at race day or any formal social gathering would pass on the chance to adorn her immaculately-coiffured bonce but, of course, not everyone is  wedded to high-quality headwear; particularly men.

Quite why men fell out of love with the centuries old tradition of hat wearing, is open to speculation. Ubiquitous central heating, mass car ownership, the shedding of the pre rock n’ roll era formalities – all will have played their part. All we know is that it came to an suddering halt in the 1950s and hats have remained dusty and neglected in the closet ever since.

The twenty-teens have seen a slow but steady renaissance. It stands to reason that the obsessive self-differentiation of the modern day Hipster calls for a hat but, it is amongst the denim community that the milliner’s craft is perhaps the most readily appreciated. And, the pinnacle must surely be commissioning a made-to-measure headpiece from one of the best in the business.

Meet Satya Twena

Satya Twena is the accidental rock star of the New York hat scene. She is the darling of the women’s fashion press but she actually began by helping her mother feel a little more confident in facing the world after an intensive round of chemotherapy and then honed her craft working with the Makins Hat Factory, one of the NYC Garment District’s remaining hat factories.

Then, one morning she received an abrupt call to say that the factory was being shuttered immediately. It seemed like the end of the line.

But, armed with a sense of outrage and alarm, she launched a Kickstarter to save the business and ,within little over one week, found herself with the finance she needed to claim the keys to her new kingdom.

That was just before Christmas 2013 and now, two years later, Satya and her team are welcoming a steady stream of discerning chaps to the Hat Atelier who are not just simply supporting local craftsmanship and local jobs, but going one step further and having their own, bespoke hat made before their very eyes.

Here’s How It Works

At the pre-arranged time, customers are greeted as treasured guests for an intensive consultancy over snacks and refreshments. They’ll learn about everything you want from a hat and make professional recommendations based on your eye colour, face shape, complexion and individual style.

Once the style and fabrics have been selected and your measurements have been double-checked, it’s in to the factory behind the showroom where you are met by your personal milliner and taken through every step of the traditional manufacturing process.

Being a bunch of unashamed geeks, we would probably enjoy that as much as wearing the end result. At Denimhunters, every day is a school day.

Here’s How You Do It

The easiest way is to book an appointment online. At $575, perhaps this isn’t the most cost-effective way of keeping your nut warm and toasty but you will look a million dollars and blushing at all the compliments. If you’re in NYC for a holiday or weekend break, we recommend calling ahead or emailing to make sure that your preferred time and date is still available.

The Essentials

Makins Hats
212 West 35th Street # 12,
New York, NY 10001,
United States
Phone:+1 212-594-6666