Biz tips 2020: all about new Heritage

The response to our new and improved Heritage range has been – to put it frankly – insane! We are sold out of many styles and sizes already and are looking forward to a big Summer of sales too! So now that we know the masses love it, we want to give you a one-stop place for info on Heritage so you can answer questions customers might throw at you. So think of this post as purely a crash course in Heritage – like the difference between the collections, how to reverse the hat, how to choose a size, and which style is best. Hopefully it’s all you need to know - ask away if we missed something!

Heritage VS Originals VS Swim

Heritage: While it’s definitely an everyday hat, its luxe fabric, look and slightly higher price tag might put it into a more special occasion category for some people. Also, due to the ties, we wouldn’t recommend them for daycare as much as our Originals styles. But, the reversibility nature of it gives customers two-hats-in-one which is also a good selling point for bargain shoppers or those after more value for their money. This is the range for your eco-conscious shoppers, or those who like a more tonal, earthy look with their clothes.

Originals: We call them our everyday hats – perfect for daycare, Nan’s house, to keep in the car or handbag for spontaneous adventures in the outdoors. Soft, cosy, stretchy cotton and easy-to-wear. These are the styles you’d go to if a child is a little hesitant about hats because there is such a great range of prints and colours they’ll love. The stretch fabric is also quite generous, ensuring plenty of wear.

Swim: The same style and fit as our Originals range, but in a quick-drying, chlorine-friendly fabric perfect for all waterplay fun. Due to the polyester fabric, we don’t recommend children use this as an everyday hat – away from the water, they will get hot on heads and cause them to sweat and become uncomfortable.

What’s the same as Originals + Swim:

• All hats in our Heritage, Originals and Swim collections are rated UPF50+ excellent protection for the best in sun safety.
• All our hats are super comfortable to wear - even for little ones in prams and carriers.
• A chin strap of some kind to keep hats in place.
• Return-to labels that can't be easily removed to ensure hats are returned if lost.

What’s different:

• Our Heritage fabric is 100% eco-friendly linen while Originals is 95% cotton, 5% spandex and Swim is 85% polyester, 15% elastane nylon knit for that famous stretch.
• The style of hat is reversible, adjustable and features a ladies range and bonnet style for a little bit of yesteryear flavour.
• Prints and colours are more subtle and inspired by nature rather than fun bright prints of characters kids might like as in our Originals and Swim ranges.
• Chin straps are ties and are without toggles. They are elasticised at the top so you're able to tie up once and then gently stretch to put on for fussy babes.

Heritage features

Heritage was created to meet slightly different needs of potential Bedhead customers: those who consider the eco-benefits of a product, who have a more stylised aesthetic, and those who like to match their children, or for adults looking for a hat with similar comfort and wearability as they know their children’s Bedhead hats have. Here are the main features about this new collection.

Sustainable style: Soft, yet hardy, linen has the ability to self-cool in summer and warm in winter, making it an ideal hat fabric. Linen is recyclable, biodegradable, hypoallergenic and antibacterial – and its manufacturing process uses minimal water and energy, no pesticides, and leaves no waste.

Two-in-one: With some clever design detail, all hats in the Heritage range are able to be reversed thanks to the pull-through chin straps and adjustable ties on some of the styles. A beautiful pattern on one side; and coordinating solid colour on the other gives you two options to cover many wardrobe combos!

Hats that grow with your child: The Flap Hat and Bucket styles have adjustable ties around the crown that span 4cm for the perfect fit.

Excellent protection: All of our beautiful anti-flop Heritage hats provide UPF50+ excellent protection, keeping little ones stylishly sun safe from the harsh Aussie sun.

Matchy matchy role models: We’ve made the Ladies range match the little ones for that fun mum-and-mini style! They’re also ideal for you to role model sun safety.

The little details: All of our beautiful ties and chin straps feature elastic for extra comfort and stretch. Real leather button-up brand tags actually double as a fancy return-to label you can write your phone number or child’s name on.

Meet the new styles

Lounger Flap Hat: For newborns and toddlers. Adjustable ties at the back allow a four-centimetre size span, elasticised chin straps keep hats in place. We recommend this style for any babies or toddlers who fuss over hats. They’re so light on heads, little ones will barely notice they’re wearing them and then by the time they’re at the bucket-hat stage where the angled brim is more visible, they’ll be so used to wearing a hat, it won’t be a bother. The flaps are nice and soft for lying down.

Seeker Bonnet: A little whimsical for those who love yesteryear style. Soft but sturdy brims protect and frame cute faces. These hats are not adjustable so sizing needs to be more considered. Great for babies and toddlers – the brims are quite protective over the face and no flap or back brim will annoy them while lying down.

Wanderer Panelled Bucket: Deep panelled crowns and adjustable ribbons at the back allow hats to grow with your child. Brims are anti-flop yet flexible. The next stage up from the flap hat or bonnet, these have the angled brim that is in their line of sight, but ideal for kids who are independent and on the move.

Explorer Classic Bucket: With a tapered crown, these hats have thick adjustable ties at the back for the perfect fit, and anti-flop yet flexible brims. The next stage up from the flap hat or bonnet, these have the angled brim that is in their line of sight, but ideal for kids who are independent and on the move.

Vacationer Ladies Sun Hat With wide brims and roomy crowns, this versatile shape suits all kinds of fashion styles. These hats are not adjustable, so a little more thought needs to go into choosing a size.

How to… Choose a size

While some of our Heritage range is adjustable, other styles are not, so it’s important to know the size ranges apply differently for the styles. You can direct customers to our sizing page for online advice. While in store, it’s a matter of knowing how to direct customers if they ask about fit.

Flap hats, Classic Buckets and Panelled Bucket hats: These hats have adjustable ties at the back that span up to four centimetres. The right size is when the hat fits best when the adjustable ties are pulled as far as they can go. That way, they can let out the ties and make the hat bigger as the child grows. If the hat fits with the ties not pulled in at all, they will quickly outgrow it, so best to move up to the next size range. Ideally, the child's head measurement starts at the smaller end of the size range that suits best ensuring optimal use and room to grow.

Bonnets: This style is not adjustable so they can buy within the size range where the child’s head size is at the smaller end of the size to ensure optimal use and room to grow. But if they prefer a more fitted look, they might want to aim for somewhere in the middle of the size range so they still get growth, but so the hat is not too big either.

Ladies: Our ladies hats are not adjustable so take into consideration how you normally would wear your hair – do you need to accommodate a ponytail or thick hair? Would you prefer a more fitted or looser look? It's all up to personal preference.

How to… Reverse the hats

The Lounger Flap Hat, Wanderer Panelled Bucket and Explorer Classic Bucket hats all have adjustable ribbons and chin ties that need to be pulled through the small slits when the hat is reversed. For the Wanderer Panelled Bucket Hats and Explorer Classic Bucket Hats, the chin straps should be on the underside of the hat when it’s on the head and the adjustable ties on the outside. Here is how to do so (below) – you could refer customers to our website product care page for this same video.

Chin ties: Poke the knotted ends of the ties through the slit at the top of the tie and pull through to the other side. A fork prong might help you pull it through.

Adjustable back ties: Using the point of the thick ties or knot of the skinny ties, poke through the holes at the base of the tie and pull through to the other side. A fork prong may help. If you pull too far through and see elastic, simply wiggle the elastic back into the slot.

How to… Care for new Heritage

We have made our hats with great care and have high standards for quality. With the right customer care, it’s our hope Bedhead hats have a life beyond its first little wearer and are passed down many times over. While linen is a hardy fabric, the leather return-to label and long ties put this collection into a delicate category and a little extra care is needed. Here’s what to tell your customers…

1. Always wash in a wash bag to ensure ties don’t overstretch or tangle in other clothing.
2. Wash when required in a gentle cold machine wash.
3. Lie flat to dry in the shade.
4. Chemicals in sunscreens don’t play well with fabrics – ensure sunscreen has soaked in and been washed from hands before putting on a hat.
5. Linen naturally softens with each wash and will crease a little. If you prefer a smooth look to your hat, use a clothing steamer or light warm iron on wrinkled areas, taking care to avoid the cord in the edges of the brim.

Did you miss our last biz tips post? Read our season prep blog post here: 

For any queries on orders, the range or anything else, please contact Carolyn on 0455 443 200 or Carolyn@bedheadhats.com.au