Introducing “The Cruiser”
My collaboration with Stephen Temkin of Leon Drexler hats is complete. Well, “collaboration” is perhaps too strong a word. Earlier this spring, Stephen was experimenting with making a summer-weight hat out of beaver felt, called “The Cruiser.” He offered to make a prototype (at cost) for my very sweaty head. I gladly acquiesced.
The hat feels like something both very contemporary and very classic. The shape reminds me a bit of a pork pie hat but looks more like a straw boater from a distance. Mostly, I think it looks like a dressy panama and that’s what I really need it for. When I wear a full suit in summer, unless it’s an ultra casual event, my now banged up panama feels too schlubby. And so, because of its chameleon nature, The Cruiser works well with both casual and more dressy summer clothes.
As promised, the hat is super lightweight. So lightweight, in fact, that if I’m too aggressive in holding it, the hat could lose some of its shape. But as Stephen says, what it loses in shape it gains in character. So far I have used The Cruiser on a number of hot days and it wears even cooler than my tightly woven Montecristi panama. I still get sweaty, I’ll admit, but much less so. While looking dashing.
The hat has a perforated leather band and a loose, gauzy linen lining, both engineered to make the hat as warm-weather friendly as possible. The grommets are also there for ventilation. The ribbon, however, is purely for decoration but what a decoration it is. It’s a beautiful, shiny sky blue, expertly (and painstakingly) pleated and folded around the hat. At once evoking a classic pith helmet but also the contrast of a panama, it’s what makes the hat almost sassy. That’s right, sassy. Rudolph Valentino sassy.
I am ready to call this experiment a success. A summer-weight hat made of beaver fur seemed an oxymoron, but through Stephen’s hard work and ingenuity, The Cruiser is a reality. Stephen is now ready to produce these hats for other gents in warm-weather locales and you can contact him through his website.
2 Comments
Martin Aller-Stead
June 30, 2015 at 7:26 pm
Pedro Mendes
June 30, 2015 at 8:24 pm
Now THAT is one fine-looking (and performing) toupee-cover. Well done, Stephen Temken, Drexler and Pedro! Thanks … this will probably result in a sale (to me) since I am tired of wearing my old(er) hats that have taken too much general abuse or are just dated.
Bravo!
You might want to talk to Mr Terry Beauchamp at Holt Renfrew Men about this beautiful hat … he is their bespoke and military consultant. Loves style AND quality.
Thank you for the kind words, Martin. And small world: Terry is a good friend of mine and we’ve been working together for a number of years on a number of projects.