Pith Helmets

[spybat]

I'm not sure if there is much of a market for these anymore, but does anyone know of a good bespoke pith helmet maker? Most of the examples I have found online are hand made in Vietnam, but are of the one-size-fits-all variety.

Here are two examples of the English "Zulu War" style helmets I am quite fond of:





Also, any good photos you can find of vintage or bespoke pith helmets would be greatly appreciated.

[jpontin]

Lock on St. James in London would make you a pith helmet--or you can purchase one RTW. When would you wear such a thing, however?!

[spybat]

Thanks for your recommendation. I'm going to check into it.

I have a ranch in west Texas where the temperature gets sky-high during the summer. Pith helmets are actually still quite practical for warm weather, as the pith/cork absorbs water for a cooling effect without warping the shape of the helmet. They are also very light weight and comfortable. In my opinion, they are just as applicable as the modern cowboy hat, but more fun. I am hoping to use the helmet mostly for hunting and work days on the ranch.

My ranch sits on the northern border of the Texas Hill Country, where flat plains meet the Colorado river and slow rolling hills. The landscape very closely resembles the African countryside captured in safari photos. Even though we do not hunt big game, my entire family engages in traditional English upland-style quail hunting during the fall and early winter. Everyone usually looks quite dapper adorned in their upland gear, but I intend to take a different direction this year. I have slowly been assembling a safari inspired wardrobe for the hunt. I purchased a heavy wool safari jacket with leather-knot buttons and will probably pair it with some slim fitting dark-tan jodphurs. I also intend to commission some knee-high hunt boots from Vogel in New York.

Are there any other LL members out there interested in safari inspired clothing? Do you know of anyone who might have commissioned bespoke safari jackets, high boots, or riding pants? Thanks.

[Cufflink79]

Dear Spybat:

Have you ever seen the movie Gunga Din with Cary Grant and Douglas Fairbanks Jr?

The soldiers are wearing the pith helmets you speak of.

As for hunting/safari clothing you might want to check out this link below.

http://thelondonlounge.net/gl/forum/vie ... php?t=6296

Found this on google.

http://www.african-safari-journals.com/ ... thing.html

Here are some more sites as well.

http://www.cordings.com/CordingsSite/pa ... e%5Ftest=1

http://www.barbour.com/indexFlash.html

http://www.hollandandholland.com/

http://www.lockhatters.co.uk/home.aspx

http://www.purdey.com/

Hope these things help you.

I am not an outdoorsman myself, but I enjoy the look of the clothing.

Best Regards,

Cufflink79

[whyescalar]

Leonard Logsdail makes custom clothing for hunting.

The last bastion of "veld ware" was supposedly a restaurant in South Africa, not sure if it was the Cape or Gauteng (Joburg), originally opened as a club by the British East India Company. Sundays would attract aspiring great white hunter and family, wearing their khaki suits, and yes, pith helmets, but ones that look more like conventional hats than the images you have there. This went on as late asl '94, when the ANC won elections, and the restaurant closed, seemingly anachronistic.

[spybat]

Thanks gents, truly great recommendations and links! I fell in love with Holland & Holland's linen safari jacket. Their jackets seem to be of the same quality as Beretta Gallery's safari-wear, but more stylized. The only problem I see is that their prices seem pretty steep for RTW. Purdey has a great selection of upland gear and clothing.

I see where http://www.mcconnellhalloutfitters.com/ lists Leonard Logsdail as a contributing "manufacturer" but I don't see anything of his on sale or in the catalog. He seems to have a great following in the US for specialty wear such as safari and smoking jackets. I'm going to search some more to see if I can find some examples of his work.

Cufflink, it is funny that you mentioned Gunga Din, because it recently worked its way up my Netflix queue and I ended up watching it about a week ago. It is definitely a classic, and I love how they speed up all of the action and fight sequences to make them seem more intense than they really are. Other movies notable for their safari gear include Out of Africa and Four Feathers. What is the name of the area in London where all of the boutique rifle and outdoor gear makers are located?

[sartorius]

Lock on St James's will certainly make you one - in fact, they have one in their window at the moment.

The area of London you mention is Mayfair.

[rjman]

Lock on St James's will certainly make you one - in fact, they have one in their window at the moment.

The area of London you mention is Mayfair.

Does Lock actually make hats still? As early as 1996 Flusser mentioned that Lock sends out its bespoke.