|
Brief
History of the Borsalino Hat
Established
in 1857. some consider Borsalino as the finest hats
made in the world. Borsalino is synonymous with style
and elegance.
 Borsalino
produces their own felt from the finest Belgian lapin
fur at their factory in Alessandria, Italy. The felt
Borsalino hats are still produced today just as they
once were one hundred years ago.
Giuseppe Borsalino,
after visiting Italy and France to learn the secrets
of the trade, set up the first artisan workshop for
the production of felt hats. When Giuseppe Borsalino
died in 1900, the production had reaches 750.000 hats,
60% of which were destined for export.
Teresio Borsalino
succeeded to his father in the family business. His
success lasted some decades. Then, in the 1940s,
business declined as the hat was no longer a part of
everyday dress. However, the fame of its trademark
remained untouched all over the world, and the name
Borsalino soon became part of fashion history. In 1970
it even inspired a famous and successful film:
"Borsalino", of course. In 1986 the factory moved to a
new site, more efficient and modern, in the suburbs of
Alessandria, whereas the offices of the old site not
only house the new University of Alessandria, but also
a piece of the Borsalino history: a precious museum
dedicated to the history of the hat. |
