In
April of
1969 Bill
Conner was
making and
selling all
kinds of
fine handmade
leathergoods.
In the beginning,
sandals were
his most
popular item
but it wasn't
long until
his original
hats became
his most
sought after
product.
Below is
an old, torn
and faded
magazine
I found in
a shoe box
called Earth
Garden. It
contains
early information
about Bill
Conner and
his first
published
article on
leather work.
I was recently
speaking with one
of my father's
leathercraft teachers
form the 60's,
Dan Holiday and
he said, "young
Bill was able to
figure out the
best way to put
a wire in the brim
of a leather hat
so that it could
be shaped, he just
had a knack for
it." Today
his original design
and construction
method is world
renowned and the
quality of a B.C
Leather hat is
still unsurpassed.
With the creation
of B.C Leather
Hats, Australia's
hat industry was
revolutionized.
Suddenly there
was a choice on
the market for
a new type of functional
headwear besides
the traditional
Fur Felt. In 1988
when Australia
hosted the World
Expo, B.C. Hats
became internationally
recognized. And
later, in 1993,
Bill won the prestigious
Exporter of the
Year Award for
the State of New
South Wales. He
received this coveted
award in recognition
for not only creating
Australia's original
leather hat but
successfully bringing
it to the world
market
Today, B.C. Hats
is still a family
owned company dedicated
to quality, service,
and original Australian
hats!
-Will Conner