Superior Materials Guide

Luxury Built From The Best, Crafted From the Finest Fibers

At Hats in the Belfry, every hat begins with the materials. We choose only the finest fibers, the same ones used by the world’s leading luxury houses, and work directly with artisans to transform them into hats that combine beauty, function, and value. Each material tells its own story of heritage, craftsmanship, and performance.

Waxed Nappa Leather

Waxed Nappa leather starts with full-grain hides, selected for their natural strength and flexibility. Through a careful tanning process, the leather is softened to achieve Nappa’s signature buttery hand feel, then finished with a layer of wax. This finish deepens color, adds a subtle sheen, improves water resistance, and ensures the surface develops a patina unique to each wearer. Customers love it because it feels luxurious on day one and only grows more beautiful over time, a truly personal material prized by luxury makers for generations.

100% Cashmere

Cashmere is one of the world’s most sought-after fibers, sourced from the fine undercoat of cashmere goats in cold mountain regions. Each spring, herders carefully comb the fibers by hand before they are spun and milled in historic Italian workshops. Cashmere is featherlight yet incredibly warm, breathable, and soft against the skin. Customers love its indulgent feel and timeless refinement. Hats made from 100% cashmere don’t just feel luxurious, they last season after season, growing softer with wear and carrying the unmatched touch of true luxury.

Merino Wool

Merino wool, sourced primarily from Merino sheep in Australia and New Zealand, is known as nature’s performance fiber. Its ultra-fine strands are softer and smoother than traditional wool, making it comfortable even for sensitive skin. Merino regulates temperature naturally, warm in the cold, cool in the heat, while also being moisture-wicking, odor-resistant, and resilient. Customers appreciate Merino for its lightweight comfort and versatility, ideal for hats that transition seamlessly across seasons and occasions.

100% Wool

Wool has been at the heart of hat making for centuries, valued for its natural warmth, strength, and shape-retaining qualities. After shearing, the fibers are cleaned, spun, and felted or woven into durable fabrics that resist wrinkles and naturally repel water. Customers value 100% wool hats for their reliability, strong enough to withstand daily wear, yet comfortable and timeless in style. With its blend of tradition and performance, wool remains one of the most trusted and enduring materials in our collection.

Pure Linen

Made from the flax plant, linen is one of the world’s oldest textiles and still one of the most practical. The stalks are harvested, retted, combed, and spun into long, smooth fibers, which are then woven by skilled Italian artisans into fabric with a natural luster and crisp texture. Linen is strong, breathable, and moisture-wicking, making it ideal for summer hats. Customers love linen because it softens with wear while maintaining its structure, offering effortless style and cool comfort season after season.

Genuine Panama (Toquilla Straw)

True Panama hats are woven from toquilla straw in Ecuador, where artisans split, dry, and hand-weave the fibers strand by strand, a process that can take days or weeks for a single hat. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, Panama weaving is one of the world’s most celebrated crafts. The result is a hat that is lightweight, breathable, and flexible enough to roll or pack without losing shape. Customers treasure Panamas for their elegance, timeless style, and authentic heritage, luxury you can truly live in.

Raffia Straw

Raffia is harvested from the leaves of the raffia palm, dried, and stripped into soft yet durable fibers. Unlike many stiffer straws, raffia is naturally flexible, allowing hats to bend without breaking and making them perfect for packable designs. Breathable, lightweight, and comfortable, raffia carries an organic texture and relaxed elegance. Customers love it because it looks stylish in any setting while offering the practicality of easy travel and everyday wear. With raffia, form and function meet in effortless harmony.

The Result: A Collection That Lasts

From cashmere to raffia, waxed leather to toquilla straw, our materials are chosen not just for how they look, but for how they perform and endure. By working directly with the artisans who have mastered them, we deliver hats that embody heritage, artistry, and timeless style, luxury designed to be worn every day.