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How To Fold A Bucket Hat
Bucket hats are some of the most iconic pieces of clothing to be associated with streetwear, and their soft design means they are great for travelling with, but can easily be damaged from folding and storage if the proper care is not taken. After having worked for over 15 years designing and manufacturing accessories for streetwear, I can say with confidence that one of the most important factors in damage and risk folding is the type of hat fabric used. Out of the most common types of fabric used in bucket hats, cotton is the most flexible and therefore most forgiving, while for example canvas or blended water-resistant polyester fabrics are more creasing. According to the highest quality management systems in the industry that relate to storage of accessories, before folding a bucket hat, make sure that the bucket hat is clean and dry, as any trapped moisture from a mildew bucket hat is a common issue in both personal storage as well as bulk storage. Finally, in regard to foldable bucket hats that are embroidered or printed with logos, be careful not to crush the area where the logo is located, as the logo can fade or peel.
Standard Crease Free Folding Technique
This method works for 90% of regular-weight bucket hats and puts the classic round crown and round brim shape at the forefront. With the hat placed brim side up on a clean surface, carefully press the crown in to create a soft fold towards the bottom center of the crown. This will create a fold and if done gently enough will not create a line. Afterwards, the brim folds should be upwards on each side of the hat, aligning the two edges into a semi circle. Brim coverage should not include the full logo or design space, so only half the crown should be covered. To finish off the fold, the hat will be folded in half along the center crease that you just created, and should now be a small shape. This shape is great for travelling, storage, or for keeping in drawers. This technique is used by in-house teams for sample storage just as well, and that's how we ensure every hat sent to clients, maintains the shape of the hat, which is a firm/strong part of our on-time and high-quality delivery commitments.
Special Handling For Thick Or Specialty Fabrics
Thick fleece-lined bucket hats and waterproof styles require special folding to prevent crown and brim distortion. For thick fabrics, do not perform a full center fold–gently compress the crown to minimize thickness, and fold the brim down and towards the crown instead of up to prevent the brim from folding. Waterproof hats have additional stiffer coatings on the polyester, so only single folds will preserve the brim–make a fold at the back, not the front, and place a small piece of soft tissue in the crown to support a tip. This method is a good environmental tip that aligns with ISO14001 to reduce environmental impact. For bulk storage of hats, this method cuts inventory damage by over 80%.
Shape Retention for Long Term Storage After Folding
Folding is just one part of the process to keep a bucket hat in excellent condition. For the best outcomes, store hats in soft dust bags or breathable fabric bins as the use of plastic bins can cause the hats to be discolored by stagnant air. On a commercial scale, use the one-stop procurement storage guidelines for bulk storage of hats by stacked storage, shallow bins, and folded side down storage. Minimize handle exposure to the product by following the first-in, first-out, and the BSCI social compliance for warehouse management. This ensures effective use of the product and time. With good quality fast delivery as a central focused goal, hats that have been well folded and cleanly stored can be shipped out in less than a week.
Ways to Fold Hats The Wrong Way
The best way to fold any hat will be useless if you make common mistakes. From consulting customers for years, I will detail the most common mistakes made on bucket hats. For one, do not fold the brim more than once. This will make a crease that cannot be un-done, even if you steam the hat. Do not press the hat with lots of force to make it really small. This will distort the crown of the hat and turn it from a bucket hat to an ugly accessory. For branded hats, do not let the logo fold against a surface. This is the most common complaint from retailers. It is really easy to solve, just put a cloth or something soft between the logo and the fold. Don't fold hats when they are wet or even damp. This ruins the fabric, costs the brand more to replace the product, and will lead to further irreversible damages.
Business Gains From Correct Bucket Hat Folding
There's still commercial value for streetwear brands and retailers with proper folding and storage of bucket hats and other streetwear accessories. Correct folding means less damage to inventory, and for brands trying to cut down on waste and replacement costs, folding bucket hats and bucket style hats means less competition for market costs. For brands with custom bucket hats, the consistent folding means quality storage, and positive testimonials from partners span decades. Also, properly folded bucket hats are compact for efficient inventory storage, enabling quicker order fulfillment and better management of warehouse space. This storage detail means the streetwear accessories end-to-end solution you offer packs and delivers with care, increasing the value of your design, production and storage.
