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AKUBRA

THE FEDERATION

FELT HATS

OUTDOOR HATS

STRAW HATS

THE BILLABONG

AUSTRALIA'S FINEST HAT

AUSTRALIA'S FINEST HAT

THE FEDERATION IV

THE FEDERATION IV

EXCLUSIVE TO THE HATTERY

EXCLUSIVE TO THE HATTERY

A COMMUNITY BUILT OVER 25 YEARS

A GLOBAL FAMILY

JOIN THE FEDERATION CLUB

THE STORY

THE STORY

Many years ago we were contacted by both Indiana Jones fans and hat collectors who wanted a genuine pre World War 2 fedora. Hats from this era were generally taller and had fuller crowns than the hats of today. Most were sold as "Open Crown" hats with the pre creased styles becoming more popular after WW2.  

The Hattery set about creating a new hat from our design. Advice from Mark Cross (Indygear.com) and Steve Delk (Adventurebilt) the hat maker for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, have assisted with the final result. They have no pre determined shape. At no stage do we make any claim that this hat is a replica of the Indiana Jones hat as used in the movies. This hat has been made on a set of older hat blocks from the 1920's, and has been left in an "open crown" state allowing customers to shape according to their desire.

When we introduced the first model we needed a name. The year was 1998 - the Centenary of Federation in Australia was near, with many historical pictures published showing people in hats such as the one we created. Hence the name The Federation. Hatsdirect has been at the forefront of offering "Open Crown" style hats into the collectors market. The hat has been through 3 transitions since its introduction, introducing a contrasting ribbon, a dimensional cut brim, and the addition of the deluxe. We have now introduced a new set of specifications and refinements based on feedback and customer requests and have logically arrived at The Federation IV.

Many years ago we were contacted by both Indiana Jones fans and hat collectors who wanted a genuine pre World War 2 fedora. Hats from this era were generally taller and had fuller crowns than the hats of today. Most were sold as "Open Crown" hats with the pre creased styles becoming more popular after WW2.  

The Hattery set about creating a new hat from our design. Advice from Mark Cross (Indygear.com) and Steve Delk (Adventurebilt) the hat maker for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, have assisted with the final result. They have no pre determined shape. At no stage do we make any claim that this hat is a replica of the Indiana Jones hat as used in the movies. This hat has been made on a set of older hat blocks from the 1920's, and has been left in an "open crown" state allowing customers to shape according to their desire.

When we introduced the first model we needed a name. The year was 1998 - the Centenary of Federation in Australia was near, with many historical pictures published showing people in hats such as the one we created. Hence the name The Federation. Hatsdirect has been at the forefront of offering "Open Crown" style hats into the collectors market. The hat has been through 3 transitions since its introduction, introducing a contrasting ribbon, a dimensional cut brim, and the addition of the deluxe. We have now introduced a new set of specifications and refinements based on feedback and customer requests and have logically arrived at The Federation IV.

The Hattery, Federation IV Deluxe (Open Crown), - ©The Hattery Katoomba

OPEN CROWN

OPEN CROWN

Open Crown refers to a hat shape which has not been determined. Depending on the depth and amount of taper in a crown "block" a hat will be suited to shape as a Fedora, a Western style, a country style and so on. The shape of a hat is often referred to as the bash, and often all that was ever done to shape a hat was a simple bash using ones hands. Today, most hats come "pre creased" to give any of the looks we have become accustomed to.

Open Crown refers to a hat shape which has not been determined. Depending on the depth and amount of taper in a crown "block" a hat will be suited to shape as a Fedora, a Western style, a country style and so on. The shape of a hat is often referred to as the bash, and often all that was ever done to shape a hat was a simple bash using ones hands. Today, most hats come "pre creased" to give any of the looks we have become accustomed to.

The Hattery, Federation IV Deluxe (Open Crown), - ©The Hattery Katoomba
The Hattery, Federation IV (Open Crown), - ©The Hattery Katoomba

DELUXE GRADE

DELUXE GRADE

The Deluxe is a further refinement of the Federation IV. Using Heritage Quality Felt as well as a softer, taller internal leather sweatband. The hat is visually identical and can be shaped just as easily. We consider both of the Federation IV models to be of premium quality.

The Deluxe is a further refinement of the Federation IV. Using Heritage Quality Felt as well as a softer, taller internal leather sweatband. The hat is visually identical and can be shaped just as easily. We consider both of the Federation IV models to be of premium quality.

AKUBRA FELT QUALITY
The Hattery, Federation IV Deluxe (Open Crown), - ©The Hattery Katoomba

THE FAMOUS FEDERATION IV

THE FAMOUS FEDERATION IV

The Federation IV has been hand picked by various stage and movie production studios around the world. Its authentic, classic open crown shape provides a perfect platform for a wide variety of characters in any setting.

One recent customer is a special one indeed. British actor Bill Nighy starred in the local production of the family film "Buckley's Chance". Bill chose the hat for the character himself, shaping the hat with the help of the production team.

Enduring the hot & dry conditions of Broken Hill, the Federation IV handled the red dirt superbly. Bill loved the hat so much he took one home with him and one of the hats used in the production is signed by Bill, on show in our Katoomba store!

Bill wears the Federation IV Deluxe in Heritage Fawn, we think he looks fantastic. Watch Bill Nighy strut his stuff in the trailer below!

The Federation IV has been hand picked by various stage and movie production studios around the world. Its authentic, classic open crown shape provides a perfect platform for a wide variety of characters in any setting.

One recent customer is a special one indeed. British actor Bill Nighy starred in the local production of the family film "Buckley's Chance". Bill chose the hat for the character himself, shaping the hat with the help of the production team.

Enduring the hot & dry conditions of Broken Hill, the Federation IV handled the red dirt superbly. Bill loved the hat so much he took one home with him and one of the hats used in the production is signed by Bill, on show in our Katoomba store!

Bill wears the Federation IV Deluxe in Heritage Fawn, we think he looks fantastic. Watch Bill Nighy strut his stuff in the trailer below!

FAQ

No. We do not make any claim as such and leave that judgement to others. We understand there are a number of minor differences including the felt used, the shade, the ribbon quality and other refinements. As many of our hats are sold to Indiana Jones fans we are of course sensitive to requests they make regarding the specifications of the hat. The hat is made for Hatsdirect (The Hattery) to our specifications and is not available through other outlets. This is the case for other exclusive styles we offer. 

In store we provide a tailored shaping service upon the requests of our customers. Online you can add the Federation Shaping Service to your order for a hand shaping service.

There can be a little variation from batch to batch but the variation is very marginal. Colors pictured on various forums often have little to do with reality and the variations seen are more to do with cameras and the photographer. We simply do not ship substandard hats. 

The Federation is blocked with virtually no taper. The blocks the Federation is made on dates back to the 1920's and typically measure slightly under true sizing, if you are deciding between two sizes, we recommend you choose the bigger size. We have specific size instructions here. Customers who follow our instructions rarely have problems. We check all hats prior to shipping. We often can assist a customer with a more precise fitting if requested, or adjust a hat a little if required. If you are not sure ask us, we are available to help and do not mind taking time to get an order right.

Please note: The Hattery and this fedora hat are not affiliated or associated with Lucasfilm Ltd. or the Indiana Jones films and this product is not authorized by Lucasfilm Ltd.

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