More News from Japan!

The Velour Series is -again- a very different type of beret.

The beret is typical Japanese style with a roomy hood, slightly plumb appearance and without a cabillou (or 'chobo' in Japanese)Made of a combination of polyester and rayon fibers, these berets are ultra light and, literally, very cool in summer while keeping your head warm in winter.

Fitted with a broad elastic band and internal drawstring to make the beret fully size adjustable, including the largest head-sizes.

This 27cm diameter beret comes in black and 3 colours @ $40.00.

Dimitri Koturovic

These drawings by Dedadarko (see yesterday's post) are of Yugoslav anti-fascist Dimitri Koturovic.

I only found very little information on Koturovic. Apart from the fact that he fought for the Republican side during the Spanish Civil War and, after the withdrawal of Republican troops following Franco's victory, that he found himself in France during WW II.

There he became one of the initiators and organizers of the first FTP groups in the south of France. He died "heroically at his post" in April 1944 in Marseille.

Dedadarko

My Serbian friend Darko, aka Dedadarko (which means Grandpa' Darko) sent me these great pictures of a boinero from the Balkans.

In Darko's own words: "Some odd reasons produce my nick. One of them definitely is my habit to wear a beret in everyday life. I started drawing seriously in the late 90's, but since 2003 I've been a working artist. Which may represent a 95% kind of  humble (while working alone in studio) and 5% kind of glamorous lifestyle (exhibition openings, workshops etc.)".

"I'm a co-creator of the comic-book Technotise, which led to producing and the making of the first Serbian animated Sci-Fi movie Technotise - Edit and I. 

Nowadays, I mostly make illustrations for the magazine "Politikin Zabavnik", ...l also illustrated books  and did various freelance commissioned artwork".

"I spent my military service in the navy on the training/sailing ship Jadran, and since then I'm a keen wearer of military hats of any kind... but berets are my favorite... and  my designated beret color is navy blue, of course :) ".

"I've got some 30 berets. Mostly military, but nowadays I prefer band-less berets only, and no liner either.

Also, I must admit that in the last decade most info about berets came to me via the internet and is somehow related with the great amount of work you put in your blog. So Daan, thanks for that".

And you too, Darko! I am humbled and proud to have some beautiful Dedadarko originals hanging in my house.

Wine Labels

Spying Boineros in the Basque Country #4

Spying Boineros in the Basque Country #3

The Return of the Japanese!

Berets are big in Japan and have been for many decades.

Apart from a good presence of imported French and Spanish berets, most berets are made in Japan. As it happens, Japan may have the largest number of quality beret manufacturers within its borders and these berets are made to a very high standard.

Most famous are the DEER Basques, made by Kongo-Shokai until the company’s closure in 2014. Since then, I have been searching for adequate alternatives, but it was hard to find a compatible brand.

Now South Pacific Berets has found two that very much live up to the “DEER Standard”: the Shigematsu beret in 9.5p (26.5cm) and the Flamingo 10p (28cm).

The first is a universal model (sized at 57.5cm but can easily be stretched to the largest head size), while the latter has a most comfortable elastic headband (like the DEER Basques, for those in the know). All models are made in the finest quality merino wool.

These berets are typical examples of Japanese berets with the raised roof of the beret and having a more plumb, rounded appearance. The appearance of these berets is larger than the stated diameter.

The small number presently in stock sell at the manufacturer's website price; more stock will come in soon (but cost will rise).

Spying Boineros in the Basque Country #2