LOVE LOCAL
LAIRD HATTERS A Cup of Tea With... Alex and Zofia Torun-Shaw are Laird Hatters, with their flagship Cambridge store on Green Street. We asked Alex why Laird hats are so special
It’s not one cap fits all, and that’s the fun bit – playing about with our hats until you find one you love CE: Is everything made in the UK? ATS: We champion the British cloth industry and support the Campaign for Wool, whose patron is King Charles III. True sustainability is about low miles and product longevity. Our hats last for years. CE: Is it true your hats are worn by the rich and famous? ATS: We’re lucky our shops are in celebrity hotspots. On week two of our first store’s opening, Keira Knightley came in, Alex Turner, Jefferson Hack ( Dazed magazine founder and Kate Moss’ ex) and Kate Moss herself. We had Yoko Ono do a late-night, closed-shop visit and a funny incident with Angelina Jolie buying a hat for Brad Pitt in our Soho store, then two days later a limo pulling up outside our Covent Garden store with huge security guys and Pitt coming in to swap his hat for the size down. CE: What are this season’s top trends for hats? ATS: Plain colours seem to be big at the moment and this season always brings autumn influences: yellows and reds, burnt oranges, rich browns and greens are good for bold splashes. Hats and caps are great accessories for adding colour accents.
Cambridge Edition: How did Laird Hatters come into being? Alex Torun-Shaw: About 15 years ago, Zofia and I were both changing careers. Zofia was coming back to work after having our third child and I was looking to do something more creative, having been the director of a group of care homes. I’ve always loved hats – inspired by my dad’s collection from the 60s and the Mr Benn cartoons, where he puts on different hats and takes on a new persona with each one. CE: Where did the name come from? ATS: We wanted to ground the company as something very British, but the Laird name also tied in with being a bit different and reflects the fact that much of the cloth we use comes from Scotland. CE: How has the company grown since? ATS: The stores really led the whole thing, in a strange way. When I first saw the Columbia Road storefront in east London,
I thought to myself that it would be perfect for a hat shop. Each store has been chosen along the same lines, all having a heritage feel that mirrors our brand. Our Cambridge store opened in 2013. CE: What’s special about the colours and fabrics used at Laird Hatters? ATS: Back in the 60s, everyone wore a hat, but there has been little innovation since. When we started, hats were mainly available in muddy browns and greys, so everything felt drab – which is actually a hatting term for a smooth finish. We wanted to be more adventurous with fabric and colour to make them more contemporary but still wearable. So, we use suede finishes and velour as well as a soft, luxurious finish called Super Smooth. Our brown is a rich chocolate, while our grey is a petrol shade that’s almost blue. Rabbit-fur felt was popular when we started, but we now use cashmere felt instead, still giving that luxury feel but more animal-friendly.
Choosing the right style
‘BROOKLYN’ CAPS are shapely baker-boy hats, easy to style and robust. Think Peaky Blinders – which has done for caps what Mad Men did for hats.
THE CASHMERE ALFRED TRILBY is a popular choice, named after Alex’s grandad. It’s a cool, classic 50s-style hat that’s offered in eight different colours.
THE DEER STALKER is Alex’s favourite: a hunting hat with ear flaps that can be tied on. The tweed repels rainwater and double peak directs it off your face and neck.
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK NOVEMBER 2024 53
Powered by FlippingBook