Montappone, Italy | A Belfry Italia Partner
Our partnership with Carina brings together Italian craftsmanship, modern design, and something that's especially important to us: wearability. Founded in Montappone in 1999, Carina is relatively young by the standards of this centuries-old hatmaking region, but its roots are firmly connected to the artisan traditions that surround it. Their philosophy of “style without borders” draws inspiration from beyond Italy while maintaining the craftsmanship and attention to detail we look for in a Belfry Italia partner. The result is a collection that feels feminine and distinctly Italian, but also comfortable, versatile, and easy to make part of everyday life.
When we travel to Italy, our time with Carina is about much more than selecting finished hats. We work together to develop styles specifically for Belfry, reviewing materials, colors, silhouettes, fit, linings, trims, packability, and finishing details. We might start with a classic cloche and adjust the shape or color. A fabric may inspire an entirely different silhouette. A summer style may need greater flexibility to make it easier to travel with. Each season becomes an opportunity to take Carina's design and hatmaking expertise and combine it with our own ideas about what will make the finished hat better for the Belfry customer.
And our customers are very much part of that conversation. After more than four decades of selling women's hats, we've learned that women want more than something beautiful to look at. They want hats that flatter, feel comfortable, travel well, coordinate easily, and fit into the way they actually dress. We bring that feedback with us to Montappone. Carina understands what can be accomplished through materials and construction; we understand what our customers have been asking us for. Together, we turn those two perspectives into new colors, updated proportions, practical details, and styles developed specifically for Belfry.
Some of our favorite collaborations with Carina begin with their wonderful use of material and color. For cooler months, we love their wool knits in classic cloche, bucket, and turban silhouettes, beautifully dyed in rich seasonal colors and lined for additional softness and comfort. When the weather warms, our conversations turn to lightweight linen, cotton, and straw, particularly flexible and packable constructions that can go from a suitcase to a beach, resort, or summer afternoon. These are the details we work through together—choosing not simply what looks beautiful, but what will make a woman reach for the hat again and again.
That's what makes Carina an important part of Belfry Italia. They bring the creativity and craftsmanship of Montappone; we bring decades of experience, design direction, and the feedback we hear directly from our customers. Together, we create women's hats that balance Italian style with the realities of modern life—beautiful enough to make an outfit special, but comfortable and versatile enough to actually wear. Their craftsmanship. Our design direction. Your feedback. Designed together. Crafted in Italy. Exclusive to Belfry.
