Penman hats are handmade by me using the finest quality materials. Many detailed hours of craftsmanship go into the making of each hat.  Only 100% pure beaver or pure rabbit felts are used. Each hat has a vegetable tanned sheepskin leather sweatband, satin liner and grosgrain hat ribbon all sewn in by hand. Although these are not "rain" hats, Penman hats will stand up when caught in the elements and continue to give you the sleek look you desire. My hats are made with the care and style of the vintage fedoras of the Golden Era.

  Comfort and elegance is what I strive for when making each and every hat. Penman hats are custom made to have the perfect fit for each individual.

  My hats are made in the tradition of the master hatters back from the Golden Era using nothing but old world tools and techniques. I start with a raw body that gets pulled over a wooden block, where it sits on the block until completely dry. The brim gets cut down and the hat is then sanded down (called pouncing) to achieve a finish as smooth as any you will ever find. The hats are cleaned up from the pouncing and get a few coats of water protection. When the hat is dry it is flanged to give the brim a curl. Then comes the final step, sewing on the parts (sweatband, ribbon, and liner). I can style the hat for you or leave it open crowned.

  I have a wide range of felt colors to choose from: Black, Charcoal, Steel, Granite, Navy, Dark Moss, Wine, Dark Brown, Pecan, Natural, Sahara, and Silver Belly.

  I have different sizes and colors of ribbon to choose from as well. I'm always on a quest for vintage ribbon so these are always available in limited quantities. Please check in with me to find what I currently have in.

About the Hatter

From as far back as I can remember I have always been enamored with the style imposed by a well worn hat.  My interest in hatmaking stems from my love of the fedoras of the silver screen from Hollywood's Golden Age, particularly those warn by Humphrey Bogart.  I was always impressed by the way my stepfather wore his stingy brim fedora.  It's hard to put in words what the right hat can do for the image of a man.

I spent the first 33 years of my life growing up in New York City.  It was there I first saw in theaters a film that would later cement my decision to get involved in hat making, "Raiders of the Lost Ark." 

 My love of the Indiana Jones hat worn by Harrison Ford inspired my quest for the ultimate Raiders hat.  For over 20 years I searched in vain for a hat that would live up to my expectations.  Then, in 2004 my quest finally came to a successful close when I discovered the Adventurebilt Hat Co., brainchild of master hatter and Mississippian Steve Delk.  In Adventurebilt Hats, not only did I find the ultimate Raiders fedora, but also a friendship with a man as devoted to hats as myself.  Through a common friendship with Steve, I was introduced to Marc Kitter of Adventurebilt Deluxe.  With Marc I found yet another friend obsessed as much as myself with the intricate details of the Raiders hat.  These conversations inspired me to start taking apart old hats and putting them back together.  With help and support from Steve and Marc I finally decided I would launch my own hat company, and thus was born the Penman Hat Co. in 2008.