dark brown fedora hat

A Guide to Hat Materials

A hat's character is determined long before it reaches a hatmaker's hands.

"Choosing a hat often begins with choosing a material."

The material influences how a hat feels, how it responds to the weather, and when you'll naturally reach for it throughout the year. Broadly speaking, hats fall into two families: felt and straw. Each has its own character, traditions, and season.

Tan cowboy felt hat with a ribbon on a white background

Wool felt

Wool felt offers a soft, natural character with a slightly textured finish. It is a timeless material that has been used in hatmaking for generations and is particularly well suited to everyday wear during the cooler seasons.

Brown cowboy hat short brim by Brandon Westbrooks in collab with SoonNoon

Rabbit felt

Rabbit felt is known for its smooth finish and refined hand feel. The fine fibres allow for a particularly elegant surface and a lightweight feel while maintaining the structure that defines a classic felt hat.

Beige cowboy hat with studs custom design.

Beaver felt

Beaver felt is one of the most celebrated materials in traditional hatmaking. Its exceptionally fine fibres create a smooth, supple felt that is prized for its lightness, comfort, and craftsmanship.

Close-up of two small glass beads on a woven straw hat
Understanding Toquilla

At SoonNoon, our straw hats are crafted from toquilla straw, the natural fibre used to create the world's finest Panama hats.

Harvested and woven by hand in Ecuador, toquilla is celebrated for its lightness, elegance, and artisanal heritage. Depending on the style and craftsmanship, it can feel equally at home on a city street, at a summer wedding, or during a long afternoon by the sea.

Its natural beauty lies in the balance between practicality and refinement—a material created for life in the sun.

Choosing the Right Hat

As a simple guide: Neither replaces the other. Much like a linen jacket and a wool coat, they simply belong to different moments of the year.

Choose Felt for:

  • Autumn and winter
  • Cooler spring days
  • City wear
  • Structured silhouettes
  • Smart casual and formal occasions

Choose Straw for:

  • Spring and summer
  • Travel
  • Warm climates
  • Outdoor gatherings
  • Relaxed and elegant warm-weather dressing


Close-up of a beige fedora straw hat with a brown ribbon band on a light gray background