Process - Greeley Hat Works

Get your best fit possible

We're setting the hat industry back 100 years

...and we're okay with that.

At Greeley Hat works, we prefer to use vintage tools that were built to last, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find any major machinery that was built after 1950. We still do everything the old way, by hand. Instead of opting for new equipment that can make dozens of hats through fewer steps, we hire more people.

The Conformateur

The Greeley Experience all starts with the conformateur, an antique French tool created in the 19th century. A circular device that looks like a hat, the conformateur is placed on your head to determine the specific shape, subtle distinctions, and centerline measurement. It creates a pattern ⅙ the size of your head.

Next up, our hat makers take the small paper pattern created by the conformateur and place it into the center of the formillion to emulate the true size of your head, which is then used to create the custom shape inside your hat. The formillion is also used to create custom cedar patterns that stay inside your hat when you’re not wearing it to maintain the shape.

The Formillion

Custom Specifications

After your head is measured and a custom shape is created, the fun part begins. Our hat hatmakers take your ideas and designs and craft a hat to your exact specifications. From the height of the crown to the width of the brim, from the color of the sweatband to the color of the printing, the options are endless. This part is just as much fun for us as it is for you to create.

Making the Hat

The Result

A custom-fit hat made specifically for you that forms to your head’s unique shape and size. When your hat fits perfectly, it becomes an extension of you. We call this #HATisfaction®.