Greek fisherman caps are surprisingly famous and I love
them.
I live in
Greece, actually on the coast, near a fishing village.
Try buying a Greek fisherman’s cap in the village; it is not
going to happen. They do sell some cheap tourist versions, which no Greek
fisherman would be seen dead in. By the way, the Greek fisherman usually wear
baseball caps with I love NY on them.
The traditional Greek fisherman’s cap is mostly seen on old
retired fisherman…the hats look older than the guys wearing them.
As a good
non-fisherman, Greek American, I wanted one and looked all over here in Greece
for one, no luck…non of the thick woolen caps that the old guys wear.
By the way the
old guys are about 90 to 100 years old, so I can refer to them as old guys.
Back to the caps, while in NY I went to my favorite hat
store on Fifth Ave. and 30 something street, JJ hats. I buy my Borsalino hats
there as well as my cloth caps when I want to do the English thing. I walked in
there a couple of years ago and see the traditional Greek fisherman’s caps,
thick woolen one. Inside it said made in Greece…they also had some touristy
ones, white, cotton etc. nevertheless the classic one was heavy wool,
embroidered visor…really great.
There is a label inside that tells me they are made, since
1885 in an ancient village outside of Athens. No mention of the village’s name.
A company in San Francisco exclusively imports them, the only Greek fisherman’s
cap available in the US…it seems the only country in the world you can get them
in, and I gave up on getting one in Greece.
I should import them to Greece from the US, even though they
originally come from and are made in Greece. I have to try to find that ancient
village outside of Athens that has a Greek fisherman’s cap industry.
I now have my cap and bought some for friends here in
Greece.
I will stroll by the fishing boats and see if the fishermen
are attracted to my cap, might be a side business.
If you want one, you can order one on line from JJ hats, or
let me know.
Posts
Hilarious - a new twist on import-export business!!
ReplyDeleteWe should do a pet apparel line of Greek fisherman hats!
This is hysterical. A terrific piece. The Birbil wit rides again. I assume you have one of the caps set aside for me.
DeleteI love this story.
Amazing you can't buy such a familiar item in Greece but congratulations on finding a Greek made one in New York!
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog by chance . Very strange story !!!!!
ReplyDeleteobviously you didn't look around .........
try www.caps.gr
we have been exporting our ''Authentic Greek Fisherman's Caps " to the States since 1965 .
One can find our caps in US stores , on ebay etc
If you wish we can give you contact info.
our main importers are located in Boston and California . how strange you do not know them.
Our caps CARRY The AUTHENTICITY TAG , awarded by EEC Authentic Hand Craft Committee...
look us up , we can offer you the REAL story about the Authentic Greek Fisherman's Cap ..
and by the way : our factory has been located in Piraeus since 1902!!!!!!!. Contact us and we shall gladly send you and Authentic Greek Fisherman's Cap . Or even send us your location in Hellas and we shall give you contact of your closest store selling our caps!!!!