Creative Capital: How this former optician started a Panama hat business in Singapore
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Artistic Majuscule: How this former optician started a Panama hat business in Singapore
Long-time expatriate Beak Cain moved to Singapore in 1989 and has been here always since. He says that Singapore is virtually platonic to wear a Panama lid, with its perennial summer and existence on the same breadth every bit Republic of ecuador.
Nib Cain (Photo: Hat Of Cain)
thirteen October 2022 06:39AM (Updated: 08 Jul 2022 eleven:59PM)
Bill Cain is a dapper homo. With his white bristles and ubiquitous Panama hat on his caput, he reminds me of Ernest Hemingway. Like Hemingway, Bill is a long-time expatriate, having left his native Canada – because he hated the cold – dorsum in 1981. He moved to Singapore in 1989 and has been here ever since.
Bill has always loved hats. Wearing one was something his begetter did, and something that became one of Bill's ain style signifiers when he came an developed. The Panama hat, being lightweight and cooling, is arguably the most sensible lid for the tropics. Just try as he might, Neb could non notice one regionally that met his standards.
Bill'south career was in the mobility and relocation businesses. That meant a lot of travel and as well as admission to other businesses around the world. A decades-long chase for the all-time possible Panama lid eventually led him to Ecuador. This then led to the institution of Hat of Cain in 2012.
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Throughout the infancy stages of the make, Bill focused on edifice a strong supply chain of distributors who sourced from the finest weavers in Republic of ecuador. Later six years, and confident that Chapeau of Cain was producing some of the very best hats on the market, Neb decided to retire from his day job and focus entirely on Hat of Cain.
Mobility wasn't Bill's beginning vocation actually. Before he left Canada, he was an optician. When nosotros met, he told me one of the things he loves almost about his current job actually harkens back to those days as an optician. He enjoys making people feel skilful and confident through their accessories. For him, seeing a customer beam when putting on the perfect hat is akin to helping someone notice the right spectacles that suit his or her confront and personality.
To check out the collection, head over to Bill's salon forth Joo Chiat Road. You'll about probable observe him at that place savouring a fine whisky and cigar, planning his next collection of hats.
OF ALL THE MANY THINGS IN THE WORLD, HOW DID YOU END Upwards WANTING TO OWN A Hat COMPANY?
I was preparing to exit the corporate world after existence in the moving industry for 30 years. Dorsum in the day when I was an optician, I enjoyed making people look and feel skilful nigh themselves with great products that I fully believed in. I've always loved hats and not being able to buy a good quality chapeau in Asia prompted me to do something nigh it.
WHAT WERE THE Family AND FRIENDS' REACTION TO YOU STARTING THE Concern?
My wife, Charlotte, knew about my dear for Panama hats and encouraged me to follow my passion. And to do something about it. Over breakfast with the family i mean solar day in 2012, nosotros put our thinking caps on and decided go for it. We ready a company and aptly named it Hat of Cain. From there, my girl and son-in-police assisted with designing the logo and website. The business was upward and running in no time, thanks to the great support from family and friends.
Delight TELL ME More ABOUT PANAMA HATS? WHAT IS THEIR HISTORY AND ARE ALL PANAMA HATS FROM PANAMA?
The history of the iconic Panama lid should be adequately directly forward. Or so ane would think. As far back equally the sixteenth century, the making of Panama hats centered around a cottage manufacture within the coastal communities of Republic of ecuador. In the 19th Century, the straw hats were traded through the Isthmus in Panama. That was the gateway to the eastern U.s.a. and Europe where their popularity grew thanks in part to visiting hat-makers. Well-dressed men and women in the USA and Europe were captivated past these finely woven hats. The hats were coined the "Panama lid" on account of their signal of merchandise rather than their state of origin.
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When Theodore Roosevelt was photographed wearing a Panama chapeau whilst visiting the construction of the Panama Culvert, he instantly elevated the image of the Panama hat with its signature black band across its circumference to iconic status. From and then on, this became the image of elegance and composure amongst the social elite, office of their de rigueur attire in their pursuit for new world domains and territories. Its popularity grew and this trademark look found its way into popular media and culture through films as personified by the silver screen'southward heroes and adventurers.
WHAT SETS A High QUALITY PANAMA Chapeau Autonomously FROM OTHERS? HOW CAN A LAYPERSON TELL?
The best way to depict a comparing is to regard the Panama hats like fine carpets; the finer the weave the longer information technology takes to produce and the more valuable. On closer inspection, you can discern the subtle difference in texture and fineness of straw.
At that place are as many as xv people involved in the process of making a Panama hat. Information technology begins with harvesting the shoots from the Carludovica (toquilla) palm which are grown on the coastal region of Ecuador. The shoots are cooked in boiling water as this procedure will cause the green shoots to lose their colour. They are then cured in sulphur before leaving them to dry out under the dominicus.
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The straws are then handed over to the weavers. Depending on the fineness of the intended chapeau, the weavers will split the harbinger accordingly. One time the straws are fully woven, the hoods are and then sold to exporters where the hats are blocked into shape. The hats are given finishing touches such as sewing of the sweatband and headband and therefore ready for consign globally.
IS SINGAPORE A HAT-WEARING COUNTRY?
Singapore is nigh ideal to wear a Panama hat, with its perennial summertime and being on the same breadth as Ecuador. Panama hats are great for sun protection. And they give yous that extra bit of style.
I'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY JUST DON'T LOOK Good IN HATS. WHAT'S YOUR Accept ON THIS?
I think everyone can expect good in a lid, given the right mode and fit. People often say they don't await skillful in a hat because they might have not gotten the right communication on what is suitable and the correct fit. There is a hat out at that place for everyone, it but takes a little more time to find that perfect hat.
I usually say, "Well, let's try on a few styles only for fun!" In almost cases, nosotros are able to find one that is just correct!
WHAT HAS BEEN THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGE RUNNING HAT OF CAIN THAT YOU'VE HAD TO OVERCOME?
Introducing the Panama lid to Singapore and the regional markets before the social media wave. Information technology was a lot of piece of work to create and increase awareness of the chapeau's history, civilization and tradition and the artisanal efforts that become into making these beautiful products. In 2016, these artisans received their much deserved recognition when UNESCO inducted them into its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. That helped a lot!
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AND WHAT HAS BEEN THE PROUDEST?
Having my own hat salon and the recognition of Hat of Cain equally the go-to hat make in Singapore. Reading the reviews on Tripadvisor, Google and other social media platforms. I am grateful for the social media exposure the make has received from people wearing our hats and tagging us in their travel adventures.
WHERE CAN PEOPLE Detect YOUR HATS? ARE YOU AVAILABLE GLOBALLY OR JUST Hither IN SINGAPORE FOR Now?
We are stocked in several locations effectually Singapore such as selected Benjamin Barker outlets, the Raffles Hotel, Six Senses Maxwell, Metro Paragon and Tanjong Embankment Club.
Our hats are also available at Nihi Sumba Resort, Sanchaya, Nikoi and Cempadek islands in Indonesia and the Tavern in Denmark. We transport globally for those who can't visit us in Singapore.
WHO ARE YOUR CORE CUSTOMERS? HOW Do PEOPLE Detect You?
Our customer base is a mix of locals, expats and tourists. Most people detect u.s. via social media, through give-and-take-of-mouth and Google.
I NOTICED Y'all OFFER BESPOKE SERVICES. IS THIS POPULAR? Practice YOU Get EXTREME OR OUT-OF-THE-BOX REQUESTS?
We offer customisation across colours and grades; this usually takes up to four months. But our virtually popular customisation involves changing the headband to the customer's favourite colour, debossing their initials and calculation feathers. Fortunately, those things can be done inside twenty minutes.
Nosotros practise take customers who like one-of-a-kind hats and that gives me a take a chance to exist creative. I torch hats, add together nails, matches, cut and re-stitch them to give them that vintage look.
YOU'VE BEEN Hither FOR Iii DECADES NOW. HOW HAS SINGAPORE CHANGED IN THE YEARS YOU'VE BEEN HERE?
When I start visited Singapore in 1981, the simply places you could go to enjoy a beer or Western cuisine were either the hotels or the membership clubs. Await at Singapore today, hosting Michelin-starred restaurants, world renowned rooftop confined... Singapore continues to prepare the bar for the best living standards non only in Asia just for the rest of the world when it comes to lifestyle, wellness and personal security, making Singapore a very desirable and cosmopolitan city to live in.
DO Y'all THINK SINGAPORE IS WELCOMING OF Creative ENTREPRENEURS? IS IT Difficult TO BUILD A Brand FROM SCRATCH Hither?
Singapore is a great place for entrepreneurs to be based in because of its constructive business infrastructure and advanced e-commerce support. It has been very successful in attracting a lot of strange talent to make Singapore their business headquarters. However, nosotros fall behind our neighbouring countries when it comes to embracing and recognising our local, talented, creative entrepreneurs. The typical expectation of a career here is to excel in the corporate world and creative takes a dorsum seat.
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In my opinion, building a make from scratch takes persistence and bailiwick. The key is to proceed a salubrious residue sheet and grow a community of like-minded people who volition appreciate your business concern every bit they get your brand ambassadors.
YOUR WIFE STARTED Bazaar FAIRS BACK IN 2002, MAKING Y'all BOTH Big SUPPORTERS OF Small-scale BUSINESSES Here IN SINGAPORE. FROM BOTH YOUR PERSPECTIVES, WHAT'S YOUR Accept ON THE LIFE Bicycle OF Independent LIFESTYLE BRANDS?
Independent lifestyle brands tin can have longevity if they accept the correct product, a sound concern model and the right positioning and branding that resonate with the right target audiences. There are increasingly more than independent lifestyle brands than in that location were x years ago. Due east-commerce and popular-ups such as Bazaar Fairs have been a boon to these up and coming independent brands as they requite pocket-sized businesses a head start while keeping overheads depression notwithstanding giving them a platform to connect and interact with their customers.
WHAT DOES Information technology TAKE TO Make A Immature INDEPENDENT RETAIL BRAND SUCCESSFUL?
It takes vision and a solid business plan, you lot need to observe the niche that will set up your brand apart and have the bulldoze and well-nigh of all healthy working capital.
DOES YOUR Family FEEL MORE SINGAPOREAN OR CANADIAN?
Nosotros accept lived in Singapore over 30 years. Raising two daughters here and living here for nigh function of our lives has actually made this our domicile. Not Canada.
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