This might be the first time that you will hear about a Homburg hat. Even the people who already heard about it might not know that many details about it. To kickstart, here are the primary things you should know about the Homburg hat.
The History of the Homburg Hat
Many people said that the Homburg hat was invented by Edward VII when a local newspaper reported about this hat on August 29, 1882. Edward VII regularly graces the Bad Homburg spa with his presence. This spa is a popular destination for the rich and famous people who flock to this place because of its healing waters.
On the site, a state-of-the-art hat factory can also be found. This factory is known as Möckel. Edward VII ordered a hat from this factory, and he was caught by the local newspaper wearing it. This is also why the Homburg hat became famous around the world.
About the Homburg Hat Factory
The hat factory where Edward VII ordered his Homburg hat is called Möckel, and it was founded way back in 1806 by a man named Johann Georg Möckel in Bad Homburg. Johann came from a family of hatters.
During that time, Möckel is considered as the “forefront of modern hat-making.” It is the first company in Bad Homburg to use a steam engine way back in 1856. Come 1890, this factory already had 100 employees and was already exporting their top-quality hats in various countries. Moreover, they used a dove with a hat in its beak as their logo to symbolize that their hats are lightweight.
Characteristics of a Homburg Hat
A Homburg hat is considered a very formal hat. It is more stiffly constructed than a fedora hat. You can easily distinguish it because its brim features a slight curl around the edge. Some characterize its brim shape as a “gently upturned kettle curl.” Aside from that, it also has a so-called “gutter crown,” a single dent that is running down the middle of its crown.
If you compare it with a fedora hat, one of the differences you will notice is that it doesn’t have any “pinches” at the front of the crown. When you observe closely, you will see that the sides are smooth. Besides those things, it also has a grosgrain ribbon wrapped around the crown. This feature adds to its elegance.
The Homburg Hat as A Favorite Hat of Well-Known Personalities
Celebrities love to wear Homburg hats. As a matter of fact, the people we saw wearing a Homburg hat are not just the usual celebrities. Instead, they are mostly members of the royal family.
Queen Elizabeth was seen wearing an incredibly elegant violet Homburg hat made by Rachel Trevor Morgan in November 2013. Another member of the royal family and a former queen, Queen Margrethe, was also seen wearing one in April 1970. Last but not least, the Duke of York, who later became King George VI, was also able to put on a very smooth look with a Homburg hat in July 1923.