Avant-Garde Sun Protection Boonie Hat in Merino Wool with Padded Shoulder

Avant-Garde Sun Protection Boonie Hat in Merino Wool with Padded Shoulder

A Trade Show Exhibitor approached us to develop a avant-garde sun protection boonie hat around a single idea: padded shoulder, executed in merino wool. The capsule was destined for the Philippines and needed avant-garde finishing that reads designer on the rail while staying repeatable in bulk. This case study records the brief, the specification and the delivery.

The challenge

• Delivery missed the collection launch window
• Fabric hand feel changed between production runs
• The previous factory could not hold consistency across sizes

What we specified

How it was built

1. Reference garments and moodboards were translated into a measurement spec, not just photos.
2. Merino Wool was confirmed with lab dips and a hand-feel approval before grading.
3. The sun protection boonie hat was prototyped on the fit model, then revised twice before pre-production.
4. Padded Shoulder was applied in a controlled process to keep every piece consistent.
5. Bulk ran with in-line inspection; a photo report was shared before shipment.

Result

• 1,500 pieces delivered inside the 10-week window.
• Unit cost held within 2.0% of the approved quotation.
• The a Trade Show Exhibitor launched on schedule and reordered the same specification next season.

What we would repeat

Keep one process owner on both sides. Most delays come from hand-offs, not machines.

Planning a similar capsule?

Tell us the quantity, target price and delivery window, and we will build a customisation programme around those three numbers.