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The Ultimate Guide: 5 Hat Materials And The Amazing Materials We Use In Our Big Hats In The UK
Transport yourself back to September 2021. We are in the very earlier stages of creating Big Bear Headwear. We've decided on a brand name and logo, our target market, types of big hats we wanted to manufacture. But we were struggling with an important piece of the puzzle; what material should are hats for big heads be made from??
We were soon lead down a rabbit hole on various websites, blogs and guides about what the best material is to make a hat from. Some were very useful, others were a waste of time.
So we thought it would be a great idea to write a blog on the different types of materials used to make hats. And also as a bonus why we chose the materials used to make our hats for big heads in the UK.
Different Types of Materials
1. Cotton
This is a natural fibre that is spun into yarn. It is a popular material used in clothing like t-shirts, polos as well as hats. This material is soft and breathable. It has superior moisture control and great insulation; this will help keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. It's naturally hypoallergenic so will not irritate your skin as much as other materials. You can get cotton which is blended with other materials to make it more durable as well as organic cotton.
2. Polyester (Plastic)
This material is 100% synthetic, man made. Essentially it's plastic. It's a popular fabric to use in hats as this material is highly durable. It has moisture wicking properties which allows it to pull sweat away from you skin. It also tends to be stretchable which makes it well suited for caps without adjustors.
3. Wool
If you think of wool, you probably think of winter hats like beanies. However, wool and wool blended with other materials can be used to make snapbacks and baseball hats as well. Wool will keep you warm in the wind and the rain so it still remains a top choice for winter caps. Bear in mind that some people can experience irritations from wool. So it might not be the best choice for you.
4. Denim
This material is thicker and stronger than regular cotton. So caps made from denim will last a long time. It will also give you a great vintage look. We've seen distressed hats and dad hats made from denim.
5. Nylon
Nylon is lightweight and thin as materials go. It's man made and is similar to polyester. It's a material that will keep you cool on a hot summer's day in the UK. It's also easy to care for and don't easily lose their shape. However it's good to know that they aren't as effective as polyester at wicking moisture from your head.
Why We Chose Our Materials To Make Hats For Big Heads
Our Big Bear baseball hat is made from 100% organic cotton. As mentioned previously this is a natural fibre which is soft and breathable. It's naturally hypoallergenic. And will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
But why did we choose organic cotton I hear you cry...
We made the decision to choose 100% organic cotton because for us it's important to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Organic cotton doesn't have the harsh manufacturing processes compared to some other materials. It uses less energy to produce. And it uses less water because of the improved soil quality as it doesn't involve the harsh pesticides used on non organic cotton.
Our Big Bear bucket hat is made from 100% recycled plastic. It's made from SEAQUAL® YARN which is high quality 100% post consumer recycled polyester yarn. This is almost identical in physical properties to virgin polyester but with the amazing added benefit of being recycled. SEAQUAL® YARN contains approximately 10% SEAQUAL® MARINE PLASTIC (from plastic marine litter), the remaining 90% is post-consumer PET from land sources. Not only is the hat made from recycled plastic; it is helping to clean our beaches.
As mentioned early this material is highly durable and have great moisture wicking properties. This hat will be a great addition to your summer wardrobe to protect you from the sun.
Our Big Bear beanie hat is made from 100% organic cotton just like our baseball hat. This beanie hat is going to keep you warm in the cold UK winters. But also, as we live in the UK, can also be used in summer on the chilly mornings walking the dog. The organic cotton is hypoallergenic to it will be kind to your head. And as it's made for big heads the hat won't lose it's shape over time and stretch.
Overall it's important for us to use materials that are as environmentally friendly as we can achieve for our small brand. Although it makes our hats more expensive; it's important for us to make the right decisions.
If you've got a big head and need a big hat that is made from environmentally sustainable materials, we've got you.