How to reshape a vintage Cap

Hey whats up guys this is a frequent question that I have been asked multiple times; "how do you reshape a vintage hat?" There are many ways to reshape hats and tutorials on Youtube but today I'll be talking about my methods of cleaning and reshaping hats. For me, nothing is better than finding a hat at a thrift. Usually the hat is not in a ready to wear condition as soon as I walk out of the store (unless you want lice and other such grime and dirt from the 1990s)

Here is how I go about restoring my hats

step 1.) Make sure the hat has been moistened so the shape somewhat breaks down and becomes pliable. You can multitask and wash the hat during this step if the hat is dirty enough.

step 2.) fit hat on the towel or pot. This will give you a shape for the hat. Make sure the hat is tight as possible to ensure mold-ability. Keep in mind that the snaps of these older hats are fragile so be very careful adjusting them. 

step 3.) Spray the front panels with a starch spray or a strong hairspray and work out the kinks and lumps of the wool or twill. Shape the hat to as close to OG as possible or at least make it fit comfortably. 

step 4.) let dry. If you have a fan; place in front of the fan to expedite the drying process. In my experience; if you do not let the hat dry to completion it will not keep its integrity and shape that the towel or pot created. 

When restoring a hat, always be mindful of the material the cap is made of. If it is wool; make sure that you removed all the soap from the hat when washing. If the cap has a white dome wash it and soak it in cold water to assure that the colors do not bleed. I have learned that lesson the hard way, as I ruined my absolute favorite Uconn Huskies snapback. The vibrant red colors bled all throughout the cream colored wool mixture. I was and still am devastated as the hat is very hard to find. Moral of the story; let the hat soak in cold water.  

Taking care of an item that will eventually be for sale is incredibly important and its the little steps like a simple clean and reshape to get the hat in wearable condition that make the difference. Go the extra mile and make your products ready for wear and presentable as possible.