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In April of 1969 Bill Conner of BC Hats was making and selling all kinds of fine handmade leathergoods. In the beginning, sandals were his most popular item but it wasn't long until his original hats became his most sought after product. Below is an old, torn and faded magazine I found in a shoe box called Earth Garden. It contains early information about Bill Conner and his first published article on leather work. I was recently speaking with one of my father's leathercraft teachers from the 60's, Dan Holiday and he said, "young Bill was able to figure out the best way to put a wire in the brim of a leather hat so that it could be shaped, he just had a knack for it." Today his original design and construction method is world renowned and the quality of a BC Hat in Leather hat is still unsurpassed. With the creation of BC Hats, Australia's hat industry was revolutionized. Suddenly there was a choice on the market for a new type of functional headwear besides the traditional Fur Felt. In 1988 when Australia hosted the World Expo, BC Hats became internationally recognized. And later, in 1993, Bill won the prestigious Exporter of the Year Award for the State of New South Wales. He received this coveted award in recognition for not only creating Australia's original leather hat but successfully bringing it to the world market.
Welcome to BC Hats Australia. Bill Conner created Australia’s original leather hat with a shapable brim in 1969. His unique construction method and use of light weight leather revolutionized the Australian hat industry spawning many copy cats. To ensure you have the genuine original Australian leather hat, look for the brass BC Hats Logo on the hat band. BC Hats is still a family owned company dedicated to quality and service. The Stockman is Bill Conner's original style. This hat is made with a high grade and extremely durable steer hide. The secret to this hat is that it conforms to your head once you wear it for a short while, becoming more comfortable with age. The BC Hat brim is reinforced with a high tensile fencing wire allowing it to be shaped. Also fitted with a soft suede sweat band. Brim size is 3". "The last time I went to Australia, I decided to treat myself to one of those gorgeous bush hats you see the Aussies wearing. It's a national icon, the Aussie bush hat. Of course, there are lots of cheap knock-offs for sale all over Melbourne and Sydney and Canberra. I wanted the real thing, and it doesn't get more real than a Bill Conner bush hat - lovingly known as a BC Hat. On previous trips, I'd looked at BC hats, but always talked myself out of buying one. The time had come. BC hats come in leather, suede and canvas. The leather hats are oiled leather - treated with oil, which both gives them a gorgeous patina, and renders them water-resistant. Although these are great-looking hats, they're made to be worn in the great outdoors, not coddled or kept on a hook. An oiled leather hat is rugged enough to withstand serious wind, sun and rain, and still look and feel great. It was a leather hat I originally wanted, but they were out of my size. I settled for a luxurious suede hat. The Bac Pac traveller, the hat I chose, is specially made to withstand hardcore travel. You can sit on this hat, fold it, crush it...and it will go right back to looking great every time. It's not as rugged, in terms of weather-resistance, as an oiled leather hat, but it's still plenty tough. While these BC hats are mostly thought of in America as being men's hats, lots of women in Australia wear them. I wear mine all the time, and always get nice comments on it. My boss, especially, covets it. I love my BC hat. It's comfy. It keeps the sun out of my eyes. It always looks good. It's got that rich, suede smell. It reminds me of Australia. At about $US50, it was a bargain. I intend to have it for life. You don't have to go to Australia to buy a BC hat - you can order from TheFedoraStore.com!"
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