Shaping an "Open Crown" Fur Felt Akubra

Reshaping an open crown hat.

Small print - read this first!

You have purchased an open crown hat. This means no pre determined shape has been placed into the hat. Before shaping the hat, try it on for size, we do not accept returns when the hat has been shaped to the extent we cannot return it to new condition.

Shaping your hat

To put the crown into the indy shape, place the brim against your chest, using the balls of your hand indent the sides the desired amount, then shape the top to the desired shape. Make sure the hat is centered.

If it does not work the first time, bring the hat back to the open crown shape and try again.

Continue to shape the hat with your fingers until you are happy. Use steam to assist this part of the process.

Using steam:

All Akubra Hats respond to steam, the felt and stiffener in the felt softens with the steam and allows the felt to become pliable. If you are finding the shaping of the hat is a little difficult, then try steam. If using a pot of water on a stove, turn the flame down so it will not burn the hat. (It has happened!)

Advice: experiment on an old hat first. Warning do not do this to a wool felt hat (ie: cheap Akubra imitations) - it will shrink!!

All genuine Akubra Hats are 100% rabbit fur felt and respond well to steam.

Most hats from earlier years were sold as “Open Crown” hats and the owners were proud to put their own individual bash into the hat. The indy style gained its good looks from being well worn and bashed about. Yours will look this way too only if you wear it in....

Akubra’s are renowned throughout the world for their ability to absorb punishment and gain character. Have fun wearing in your Akubra, give it a hiding but treasure it!

If you have a photo of your self in the hat, send it to us in JPG format, we would love to see some of our customers in their hats.

We offer five Akubra styles with "open" or unshaped crowns. The Federation, The Federation Deluxe, The Fedora, The Homburg and The Drover.

In the era prior to WW2 hats were generally sold as Open Crown and hat wearers delighted in putting there own individual shape into a hat. If you were wealthy you would go to a custom hatter who would shape or block the hat for you.