Vintage 1960s Pierre Balmain Silk Hat

A vintage hat from either the very late 1950s or early 1960s. It is a very high pillbox form with an upturned brim.  The color is black with a striped stitched brim in green, burgundy and gray.

The label reads Reproduction of Chapeaux Pierre Balmain - Paris.

It measures 22" in circumference and 6" in height.

It is in very good condition.

A little history about the use of the "Reproduction" on the label

It became a practice even going back to the 20s, to use the term "adaptation" on labels of certain articles of clothing when couture houses began to sell styles to US stores such as Bergdorf Goodman. These stores would then be allowed to reproduce these styles. These were generally of a high quality. These firms would then be allowed to sell the articles with the label indicating they were an adaptation or reproduction of the Parisian couturiers style. The term reproduction came into use in the 1950s.

The couturiers came to the realization that it made more sense to sell the style and be somewhat compensated rather than just have their design stolen. Copying was a problem even back then.