I don't need a custom hat in my life nor do I want to spend the money for it That being said it would be kind of cool to have a hat that fits my head just right
There is another classically British establishment in London that has been making and selling umbrellas, James Smith and Sons. I purchased 2 umbrellas from them in the early 1990’s and both function as well as day one. Both were cut to my height and preference. One is for business and formal use while the other is for casual and country. It is a single wooden branch with a steam bent handle. Has original bark and a few knots and knobbies. I lost one for over six months but it found it’s way back somehow.
And John Lobb for shoes, as well. I thought it was right next door to Lock & Co. I think it's on the same block. Beautiful things. I'd love to get a Smith & Sons brolly.
I love those kinds of old mechanical devices and mechanisms, now we’d just optically scan it or something, which would no doubt be more accurate, but there’s just no romance for me in that kind of process versus a timeless, physical, mechanical one that requires handmade equipment and expertise with how to operate it.
Also, seeing how easy it is to create custom sized hats (provided one has the right equipment), it's a shame that this isn't available in every Walmart store...
It would be available if more people wore hats every day. The 60s were the last "hat" decade. So we are past the the 50-year mark where a hat was a staple for every professional person. It's more an affectation now rather than a wardrobe necessity. Kind of like the barber shop that gives you a shave... They used to be on every corner and now they've died off, or you have to really look for one that provides the shaving service.
I appriciate that he said "old fashioned in all the good ways that can be interpreted". Because anytime you bring up anything old fashioned there's always that one person who has to bring up all the bad things that went wrong during an era.
So just because it's old doesn't make it good. A lot of shit when down in past generations that people ignored. You gotta look at stuff on a case by case basis. These dudes seem cool though.
Amd non of those people that talk about those things that happened in that era relate to what it was even talked about. I swear these people would prefer living in a modern tyranny because of "how bad" the old was.
@@AirQuotes You are literally the textbook example of what the original commenter is talking about. You’re right that a lot of bad things happened in the past, but it’s good that the term “old fashioned” can still be used in a positive light especially when talking about the history but those like yourself always have to ruin it by bringing pessimism on what could’ve been an optimistic view/term.
Well, i'm 19 and i have some of my great grandpa's 1940s raincoats and porkpies or fedoras, everytime when it's raining i go out walking and what you say it's true sometimes i encounter some of teens my age says i look like a Mafia or saying "do you wearing that stuff all day?" then i was just like "who cares?" it's my life, my taste i do what makes me happy. But some people appreciate it and give a compliment especially the elders, it's not like everyday i wearing that "old school" stuff, i also wearing regular clothes at home or going out like normal people, but when the time i want i will wearing those dress.
That Londoner late 1800's type of shop in an alley or back corner where you find something wonderful is really missing today, specially with corona forcing most of the already rare existing ones into closing down. Very sad. :(
not only that I'm surprised there's something like this out in the world, but I also think that this IS the way clothing SHOULD be made. Customized with client's taste and needs, hand-made with love and care. That's the way you do it
Most people had only a handful of clothing articles throughout history. Your average person today, at least in developed nations, has dozens of clothing pieces.
@@techelitesareadisease8816 Also the way we wear and clean clothes has changed dramatically. In the past many layers were worn primarily to protect the few out layers of clothing people wore from getting dirty. This meant that outlayers only very occasionally got washed, which made them last longer. And the cheaper and more durable under-layers would get washed more aggressively and with a higher frequency. The fact we wear fewer layers and bung it all in a washing machine, and possibly also a drier means our clothes wear out faster, necessitating owning more clothes to compensate.
May they last another 500 years. True professional, pride and craftsmanship are so rare nowadays, and yet by that very fact, so desirable and so satisfying. Being English, and being proud of being English is to be associated with exactly such great traditions, and to revel in that association, and to hold oneself to the same high standards.
@@rynnziolkowski4642 if your saving for a trip to England then your gonna need to save atleast double again to be able to afford a hat from lock and Co!
I just imagine it's 1940 and someone is just sitting in the shop getting measurements and just a 500lb bomb falls through the roof and crashes through the floor and the client just looks at the hatter and says " Did a bomb just fall through the roof" and the hatter simply replies "yes" and they just carry on with their business
In true stoic british fashion, I can see that happening as well! "...Did a bomb just fall through the roof?" "I do believe it did Sir. Bother, we might have a bit of issue getting to the black fabric for your hat." "Well, I don't mind grey, or maybe a deep blue?" "deep blue would be best, it'd match your eyes, Sir."
Please never let this business die off, it's just really nice to see that they lasted this long, it'd be even nicer if they lasted an extra 350 years, or maybe even more.
I finally got to go there in October! All the way from Houston Texas. So incredible, the people are awesome and so polite! If anyone ever gets the chance it is 100% worth every penny! I will be back again one day!
Were they able to make you a hat that day? Were you in town for a week and got it before you left? Or did they have to mail it to you when they finished it?
@@hulkslayer626 I had it mailed to me after. I was in town for 10 days but the box it comes in is pretty large for traveling. I definitely suggest to ship it.
It's really sad to hear that the pandemic forced them to close their doors for the first time when they managed to remain open even when a bomb came crashing through their roof.
Lockdowns have been abused, the WHO experts explicitly said they should be a last resort in extreme cases not the first thing to do due to the many negative effects of extended lockdowns.
@@AdamsHadEnough it surely is is something to be coveted. It's amazing that this beauty is now than 100 years old. And here we are, with all our knowledge of material science and yet the things we design won't last this long.
@@azharabasshah8503 That is intentional. Engineers are trained from day one to design for it to be replaced. That is how companies make money is they skimp on every possible thing and have products designed to fail in a certain time frame so that you have to buy it again.
I don’t wear hats and can’t imagine ever going anywhere I would need to, but I think I need to buy one of those art couture hats formed perfectly to my head
"We have never had to close our doors until Covid hit." *The Bomb that just went through all the floors and landed in the basement:* "Am I a joke to you?"
Difference here is the bomb is a threat to the store itself - one which they managed to control. The pandemic however, could potentially spread by people coming in and out of the store. And I doubt anyone's going hat shopping in the middle of the pandemic so closing the shop made sense.
Fun fact: This hat store was actually featured in the first movie of the Kingsman trilogy, Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014). Edit: Thanks for 1K likes, btw…
Alright fine. Some people gets it some people doesn’t but The Kingsman do be a popular film and hardcore fans would easily spot the Lock and Co reference.
300 years and 2 world wars couldn't stop this shop this pandemic is nothing compared to those things but it was still closed. I hope that this beautiful place never goes away i want to go for the historic value and id love to buy a 🎩
@@cloudpuffies yeah, most of those "luxury" supposed high end brands are pretty much crap these days. these are true items of luxury and craftsmanship, not some cheap leather sewn together and stamped with a logo.
@@skyezblue3136 mercenaries just means hired guns pretty much. And if you use that definition they’ve existed ever since there was something to pay people with.
It's weird how these old tools last so long, only for nowadays almost everything that isn't a very simple scissors fails within 1-3 years, planned obsolescence is sad
@@furinick idiot it’s a scissor, you don’t compare a well kept expensive quality head measurer to a god damn plastic scissor. The only reason it’s still of good use is because they’ve been keeping it safe. All items can be kept and still be used if you keep it correctly.
@@furinick Japanese bonsai scissors and tools also endure a lot. All these traditional crafts have their tools purpose-made, handcrafted with the proper materials. In the age of consumerism, this just doesn't cut it anymore, no pun intended.
@@furinick It's not weird at all. It wasn't profitable to have things like planned obsolescence. Take tools, for example. A company that made wrenches would go out of business if they made wrenches that broke after year of use (harbor freight) but the company that made quality ones still have their legacy running to this day. You didn't want your tools that you'd give your kids and their kids to break.
I love that this still exists and I hope it continues to thrive. It's a national treasure to still have in this day and age. Nothing beats something custom made to your liking.
Can't imagine the pressure of being a kid in this family. Knowing my future the moment i was born wether i liked it or not. Hopefully everyone likes it :) its a beautiful shop and i absolutely love the environment in there
eh, as long as the family has at least 4-6 kids per generation there should be at least 2 that don't mind. a guarenteed carrier is nice for some people.
there are often moments when we are in the pressence of genuine beauty that naturally strikes us for just its inherent simplicity, and watching this material just hit me with that realisation. The beauty of the craft, the beauty of the human approach behind it and the beauty of the makers a product that has survived for centuries thanks to exactly that. really inspiring.
I lived in England for two years and was looking for a souvenir to bring home. I went and bought a bowler from Lock and while I've never worn it in public, it's still something I treasure. My head was too large, and the top hat was a bit out of my range. But my sizing card remains there when next I'm back for that hat.
@@henri6595 20 years ago, the bowler was about $350 US if I recall. A top hat was much more expensive - maybe double or more. No idea what they’d want today. I still think it was worth it.
@@BarryKruse Guess I can't afford a Top Hat even if I wanted one 🤨. Based on what you said the Top Hat would cost $2K USD. I can think of a lot of things to do with $2K 🤔.
@@vampirecount3880 No it wasn't this flu that closed the shop up. It was the government and their power grab in the wake of this sensationalized flu that did.
It’s so amazing seeing stores like this still today. So much history. Things like this just don’t exist today. Hope they stay open for another 300 years.
Why do i enjoy watching amazing craftmanship videos regardless of the subject. Watch making, glass blowing, knife/sword forging, and now hat making. Does anyone else know of a skilled craftmans at work.
For American's, when Brits refer to culture, this is what they mean. A hat shop older than the USA. I might have to visit this shop when I visit this area just for the experience sake.
To the anglophile. All the things everyone else on earth has been doing that are different than the English before the English decided to conquer them and force them to live a different way and in poverty was culture too.
It's a real shame that most businesses aren't based on this model anymore! It's become a throwaway world! The cheaper the better! The small multi generation businesses are mostly gone, it's so sad!
I think this is partly due to how car based we are, especially the USA and Canada. In the space that you can put one burger shop with a parking lot, you can put 5 buildings, that can sell many various things, unlike the burger shop, which if out of business would never manage to become something other than a fast food place with a giant parking lot. Not to mention I'm much more likely to order a hat online than drive to a shop. If I could walk or bike to the shop it would be much different.
Because most idiots shop at wal-mart to feel like they’re saving money. That’s where all the Middle American shops like this went. You can’t be sad about this story if you shop at wal-mart. You’re part of the cause.
If this store were a person, their resume would just have a list of all the famous people they’ve fitted and all the iconic styles they created. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
This story is rather amazing. A relatively unassuming shop in front with such an extraordinary history. Love the way he says, "Okay, we have electric lights..." as if they just put them in yesterday and he's somewhat embarassed about it lol
There was a bespoke hat shop in Norwich; Rumsey Wells, but sadly, despite a successful past, lack of demanding for quality fitted hats caused it's eventual closure. 😞
It's the same story as the cobbler, because of the toss away culture that has developed people rather just toss a pair of shoes and buy new ones instead of having them repaired which has essentially killed the cobbler. A few still exist in some places but not many.
I have multiple hats from L&H and I have loved all of them. I give them as gifts now to close friends. Finding out someones hat size can be a fun conversation since most people are ignorant of that particular measurement.
I live in the United States and it feels like hats are a thing of the past here. When I watch old movies and see the hats it makes me wish they would become popular again.
....I...I looked outside earlier today, and then went to get coffee....I saw...men and women wearing hats!!!! Hats are still a thing and men and women, everyone, wears them! I don't think wearing....hats..went out of style ever.
I don't know why but I want a boler hat from here. Probably wouldn't wear it but once or twice, but just having something of such quality would be great.
@@naveen5126 It's an inside joke, from one of the largest and most popular web forums in existence today. Figure it out... 🙂 I'll give you a hint. What is the most popular and widely used semiautomatic rifle today, for target shooting, deer/varmint hunting, and home defense, that most armed citizens own at least 1 of?
Places like these are like treasures from times passed. Preservation of these things helps keep them from being forgotten. Sometimes old methods could (in some cases) can be better than what we have now. IF I had the means, I would travel to London one day and get me a nice custom-made fedora. If the quality is as advertised, I'd probably keep it like I would my valuables.
I wonder how much a Lord Nelson hat would cost to order today? To be made by (almost) the same techniques by the same company that made the originals would definitively be an invaluable and beautiful piece of art to have around. Lovely video!
One of those things that I will probably never buy but fell oddly glad that they still exist.
Some of the best made umbrella can still be purchased from similar companies.
Same
I don't need a custom hat in my life nor do I want to spend the money for it
That being said it would be kind of cool to have a hat that fits my head just right
Same from Texas
Same
Hats off to these people
Hehehehe
Clever🤣
I see what u did there
@Judo tssss
**knee slap**
Everyone: They don't make them like that anymore
Lock & Co: Hold my hat...
Lol
There is another classically British establishment in London that has been making and selling umbrellas, James Smith and Sons. I purchased 2 umbrellas from them in the early 1990’s and both function as well as day one. Both were cut to my height and preference. One is for business and formal use while the other is for casual and country. It is a single wooden branch with a steam bent handle. Has original bark and a few knots and knobbies. I lost one for over six months but it found it’s way back somehow.
And John Lobb for shoes, as well. I thought it was right next door to Lock & Co. I think it's on the same block. Beautiful things. I'd love to get a Smith & Sons brolly.
They should make a videos on these too! Too interesting to miss out on.
@@BarryKruse someone said its closing down.
This comment oozes British, and I love it
The lost umbrella must've missed it's Mary p
I don't need a custom made hat but I'd buy one from this shop. Just to experience the service and quality.
I was thinking the same thing lol
Aaand how much are u willing to spend for this experience?
@@k.k8791 $160 lol I'm broke a.f
@@kimifurstenberg3722 all of sudden an experience from a UA-cam video is pretty much good and convenient ,don't u agree
@@k.k8791 haha yeah and when I can't travel I look at google street views and UA-cam vlogs
A real “Kingsman” shop
It was in kingsman
It looks pretty classy but too bad they don't have any secret gadgets like force fields or whatever
@Repent! Indeed.
Lox as in fish?
Locks, as in Locked Up!
That head measuring contraption is just magical.
I'd say it's a real national treasure.
i want that as a hat
Looks straight out of Harry Potter.
I love those kinds of old mechanical devices and mechanisms, now we’d just optically scan it or something, which would no doubt be more accurate, but there’s just no romance for me in that kind of process versus a timeless, physical, mechanical one that requires handmade equipment and expertise with how to operate it.
It looks like out of a steampunk world
i was expecting a secret room in the HatMaker shop - Kingsmen.
It wouldn't be so secret if they showed it to the interviewers
I was gonna comment just that!
Kingsmen-gentlemen needs a good hat
They don't have a secret but they do have a bug in your top hat
Fun fact, Lock & Co. is where Colin Firth tells Sam Jackson to go for a top hat in the film.
Lemme know if you need a satellite for piggy back 🤣
Omg, I would love a hat shop that actually sized heads. It's a complete shame that isn't at least available in every major city.
There is a hat shop in South Park, Colorado that DOES !! West of Denver on 285, near Hoosier Pass.
I size and fit motorcycle helmets but want one of these hats so bad!!!
I'm going to this place if I visit London. Seems like a place with more history & culture than you could imagine.
Also, seeing how easy it is to create custom sized hats (provided one has the right equipment), it's a shame that this isn't available in every Walmart store...
It would be available if more people wore hats every day. The 60s were the last "hat" decade. So we are past the the 50-year mark where a hat was a staple for every professional person. It's more an affectation now rather than a wardrobe necessity. Kind of like the barber shop that gives you a shave... They used to be on every corner and now they've died off, or you have to really look for one that provides the shaving service.
I appriciate that he said "old fashioned in all the good ways that can be interpreted". Because anytime you bring up anything old fashioned there's always that one person who has to bring up all the bad things that went wrong during an era.
So just because it's old doesn't make it good. A lot of shit when down in past generations that people ignored. You gotta look at stuff on a case by case basis. These dudes seem cool though.
Amd non of those people that talk about those things that happened in that era relate to what it was even talked about.
I swear these people would prefer living in a modern tyranny because of "how bad" the old was.
@@AirQuotes You are literally the textbook example of what the original commenter is talking about. You’re right that a lot of bad things happened in the past, but it’s good that the term “old fashioned” can still be used in a positive light especially when talking about the history but those like yourself always have to ruin it by bringing pessimism on what could’ve been an optimistic view/term.
Well, i'm 19 and i have some of my great grandpa's 1940s raincoats and porkpies or fedoras, everytime when it's raining i go out walking and what you say it's true sometimes i encounter some of teens my age says i look like a Mafia or saying "do you wearing that stuff all day?" then i was just like "who cares?" it's my life, my taste i do what makes me happy.
But some people appreciate it and give a compliment especially the elders, it's not like everyday i wearing that "old school" stuff, i also wearing regular clothes at home or going out like normal people, but when the time i want i will wearing those dress.
Because they're sad saps who have no respect for progress that got them here
I wish, this kind of old fashion would come back. Suits and hats sure look neat.
I mean more and more are wearing Snapbacks today. Not the classical hat but I think they make a return
Old-fashioned customer service with attention to detail would be keen.
That Londoner late 1800's type of shop in an alley or back corner where you find something wonderful is really missing today, specially with corona forcing most of the already rare existing ones into closing down. Very sad. :(
i mean more young people today doing slick hairstyles with pomade compared to 90s and early 00s when punk and emo-ish hairstyle is everywhere
Yer even the famous umbrella shop in London is closing down it's sad
not only that I'm surprised there's something like this out in the world, but I also think that this IS the way clothing SHOULD be made. Customized with client's taste and needs, hand-made with love and care. That's the way you do it
That's how it was for most of history until clothes were able to be mass produced.
Ideally yeah, but mass produced stuff (not just clothes) has helped most people afford a simpler version, which is great too.
Most people had only a handful of clothing articles throughout history. Your average person today, at least in developed nations, has dozens of clothing pieces.
@@techelitesareadisease8816 Also the way we wear and clean clothes has changed dramatically. In the past many layers were worn primarily to protect the few out layers of clothing people wore from getting dirty. This meant that outlayers only very occasionally got washed, which made them last longer. And the cheaper and more durable under-layers would get washed more aggressively and with a higher frequency. The fact we wear fewer layers and bung it all in a washing machine, and possibly also a drier means our clothes wear out faster, necessitating owning more clothes to compensate.
The Conformateur is the Most steampunk thing I’ve ever seen
I thought that was a hat at first lol
@@JaredConnell It technically could function as one.
don't get any ideas
it's beautiful
I think it's called mechanical..........
This shop is older than America. I hope it stays around
@@businessinsideryoutube2114 what is this some kind of coded puzzel?
It's older than US*
@@pedrohff2012 I stand corrected
@@mohamadaboualfa7037 it's spam. I reported the comment
@@HowManyEggs93 yeah I was thinking the exact same thing when I heard them mention 350 years. 😱
I don't know why would anyone dislike videos like this. It's not like this offends anyone in the world, but keeps history alive...
Everyone seems to offended these days ..SMH
You can barely even take a breath without someone making a big deal out of it. I personally get offended at people who are easily offended!!
This shop should be Included in World Heritage Sites
One step at a time buddy
@@yahya2920 one hat at a time
@@yahya2920 your not that guy pal
No, because the UN must be destroyed before it finishes off killing humanity.
@@whyisblue923taken that makes no sense
May they last another 500 years.
True professional, pride and craftsmanship are so rare nowadays, and yet by that very fact, so desirable and so satisfying.
Being English, and being proud of being English is to be associated with exactly such great traditions, and to revel in that association, and to hold oneself to the same high standards.
Indians from 9k years ago : Hold my charkha
Um... where’d you learn how to speak? Bloody Windsor Castle?
Not even British and I'm proud that shop still is killing it, I plan on getting a hat from them when I can finally afford a trip to the UK
@@rynnziolkowski4642 pretty sure the hat will cost more than your trip to UK. Good luck!
@@rynnziolkowski4642 if your saving for a trip to England then your gonna need to save atleast double again to be able to afford a hat from lock and Co!
I just imagine it's 1940 and someone is just sitting in the shop getting measurements and just a 500lb bomb falls through the roof and crashes through the floor and the client just looks at the hatter and says " Did a bomb just fall through the roof" and the hatter simply replies "yes" and they just carry on with their business
In true stoic british fashion, I can see that happening as well!
"...Did a bomb just fall through the roof?"
"I do believe it did Sir. Bother, we might have a bit of issue getting to the black fabric for your hat."
"Well, I don't mind grey, or maybe a deep blue?"
"deep blue would be best, it'd match your eyes, Sir."
mean while some teenager is out on the front who just got bombed, so the rich can wear a hat.
@@pizzaki582 Wow, kill the fun. Put the fun into camps why don't you.
@@ShiftyMcGoggles Someone did that.
They killed themselves.
@@gurimisenpai2358 The question is, does that +1 their k and d?
Having clothing that's made specifically for you just feels so special
Even the word for tailor-made items makes it sound special: Bespoke.
I can attest, a $200 suit that's been tailored to your body will look so much better than a $2000 that hasn't
@@tomtcom a suit that was specially tailored and only costs 200 ? doubt that
Please never let this business die off, it's just really nice to see that they lasted this long, it'd be even nicer if they lasted an extra 350 years, or maybe even more.
why are you here
We meet again lol
fun fact: replying on a comment before the comment gets popular will get your reply alot of likes after the comment gets popular
get it?
I hope I does too. I wanna see a hat maker
WoW, here we all together again. Man of culture ;)
I finally got to go there in October! All the way from Houston Texas. So incredible, the people are awesome and so polite! If anyone ever gets the chance it is 100% worth every penny! I will be back again one day!
Were they able to make you a hat that day? Were you in town for a week and got it before you left? Or did they have to mail it to you when they finished it?
@@hulkslayer626 I had it mailed to me after. I was in town for 10 days but the box it comes in is pretty large for traveling. I definitely suggest to ship it.
It's really sad to hear that the pandemic forced them to close their doors for the first time when they managed to remain open even when a bomb came crashing through their roof.
And throughout the spanish flu too
It's was just closed, not completely ended like the term refers in most context.
Lockdowns have been abused, the WHO experts explicitly said they should be a last resort in extreme cases not the first thing to do due to the many negative effects of extended lockdowns.
Politicians forced them to close their doors. People did that, not some virus. People did.
Yes it is. Only feeling I have watching this video.
This documentary could be 2hrs long and I'd watch every second. 😩
Wouldn’t you rather watch the documentary
I wish this shop good luck and best of all in the future. I simply love tradition and this really needs to be preserved.
HATS OFF to the engineer who designed the 'conformeter'.
I could see it being coveted by the steampunk crowd.
@@AdamsHadEnough it surely is is something to be coveted. It's amazing that this beauty is now than 100 years old. And here we are, with all our knowledge of material science and yet the things we design won't last this long.
right. for me that's the highlight
@@azharabasshah8503 That is intentional. Engineers are trained from day one to design for it to be replaced. That is how companies make money is they skimp on every possible thing and have products designed to fail in a certain time frame so that you have to buy it again.
Engineer gaming.
Plot twist: another kingsman's old friend based on hat shop bussiness
Other members are currently in mission so they're continuing the business.
@@shiprapaul2033 oh
Galahad actually made a reference to this shop when Richmond Valentine was fitting on a suit at the suit shop
First movie was good.... Then shit
Check out Mister Miller Hats, at least he makes them from scratch, they are just an old hat shop
I don’t wear hats and can’t imagine ever going anywhere I would need to, but I think I need to buy one of those art couture hats formed perfectly to my head
Where do u live. on the moon?
@@samuelharris2473 my created player in maddens name is Harris samuel😂😂
They are perfect for weddings, even as a guest
There’s a lot of “I” statements in your comment.. nobody cares about you
You can’t imagine yourself ever going anywhere you would need to?
I dont wear hats, but now I want one from here just to experience it.
Then just f0cking buy it.
@@georgica698 chill
@@georgica698 Had another bad day Lucy?
@@georgica698 can't do that mate, I don't live in London
@@georgica698 damn that’s harsh
"We have never had to close our doors until Covid hit."
*The Bomb that just went through all the floors and landed in the basement:*
"Am I a joke to you?"
Difference here is the bomb is a threat to the store itself - one which they managed to control. The pandemic however, could potentially spread by people coming in and out of the store. And I doubt anyone's going hat shopping in the middle of the pandemic so closing the shop made sense.
If anything it shows that this whole situation is exagerated.
Imagine not closing for a world war and closing for a flu
Come on
@@ArtistinDeadlight777 they might have made soldiers hats during the war
People were tougher back then. They just got on.
@@mancheetah5610 exactly. The people in America have grown weak in a fairly short amount of time.
Fun fact: This hat store was actually featured in the first movie of the Kingsman trilogy, Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014).
Edit: Thanks for 1K likes, btw…
Im pretty sure most people got that
@@Ed-ry1kj Oh really?
Alright fine. Some people gets it some people doesn’t but The Kingsman do be a popular film and hardcore fans would easily spot the Lock and Co reference.
@@Ed-ry1kj Okay 👌
Now I wanna watch it again
300 years and 2 world wars couldn't stop this shop this pandemic is nothing compared to those things but it was still closed. I hope that this beautiful place never goes away i want to go for the historic value and id love to buy a 🎩
Isn't there also a few other epidemics and fires that had a go but the shop is still there.
@@nichochan8681 influenza, polio etc
They found work fitting all the soldiers helmet straps
I wouldn’t call a global pandemic where hundreds of thousands of people died “nothing”, but ok…
This pandemic has killed over twice the number of people actually in the UK than both World wars combined did.
I am American and would be honored to have such an amazing hand crafted hat.
Why is being American relevant?
@@westy1637 because they’re American and if they don’t say it then we won’t know
@@tacosmexicanstyle7846 Lol just tell him we don't go his size... you know... big head... big ego...
@@westy1637 there were a few comments abt how this story makes people proud to be English, maybe that's y they mentioned it? Idk tho
@Moeseph Amish?
This is probably one of the things I'll try to buy when I'm rich instead of Gucci..
Gucci doesn't really have style anymore.
It's just the same patterns, over and over...
@@cloudpuffies yeah, most of those "luxury" supposed high end brands are pretty much crap these days. these are true items of luxury and craftsmanship, not some cheap leather sewn together and stamped with a logo.
@@ourtime-downhere6931 .
@@soyaebrahman1654 What?
@@ourtime-downhere6931 agreed
wow, 7 generations. woah, i hope i could find myself a business that could stay great for that long
mcdonalds
hooker business, oldest profession
@@impulsiveurge5837 mercenaries"am i a joke to you"
@@skyezblue3136 mercenaries just means hired guns pretty much. And if you use that definition they’ve existed ever since there was something to pay people with.
@@Pixel3572 I'm pretty sure since middle ages there was already an mercenaries group all around the world
3:37 perfect advertisement pic for the shop.
No wonder so many of their instruments still properly function, given they're made of quality wood.
It's weird how these old tools last so long, only for nowadays almost everything that isn't a very simple scissors fails within 1-3 years, planned obsolescence is sad
@@furinick idiot it’s a scissor, you don’t compare a well kept expensive quality head measurer to a god damn plastic scissor.
The only reason it’s still of good use is because they’ve been keeping it safe. All items can be kept and still be used if you keep it correctly.
@@furinick Japanese bonsai scissors and tools also endure a lot. All these traditional crafts have their tools purpose-made, handcrafted with the proper materials. In the age of consumerism, this just doesn't cut it anymore, no pun intended.
Tools and buildings were built by to last
@@furinick It's not weird at all. It wasn't profitable to have things like planned obsolescence. Take tools, for example. A company that made wrenches would go out of business if they made wrenches that broke after year of use (harbor freight) but the company that made quality ones still have their legacy running to this day. You didn't want your tools that you'd give your kids and their kids to break.
I love that this still exists and I hope it continues to thrive. It's a national treasure to still have in this day and age. Nothing beats something custom made to your liking.
TF2 players: "I'll take your entire stock"
i couldn't stop but remember Sophie Hatter from Howl's Moving Castle
Same
Can't imagine the pressure of being a kid in this family. Knowing my future the moment i was born wether i liked it or not. Hopefully everyone likes it :) its a beautiful shop and i absolutely love the environment in there
Well ideally each generation has several kids so they can survive some anti hat offspring
eh, as long as the family has at least 4-6 kids per generation there should be at least 2 that don't mind.
a guarenteed carrier is nice for some people.
I would make hats all day if I made that fat cash.
One of the children saying: "I'm gonna make baseball caps because they sell!"
@@DreadX10 lmao, kids like ‘I ain’t ask for this, you need consent, you can’t force me to make hats grandpa!” F this 400 year old shop
there are often moments when we are in the pressence of genuine beauty that naturally strikes us for just its inherent simplicity, and watching this material just hit me with that realisation. The beauty of the craft, the beauty of the human approach behind it and the beauty of the makers a product that has survived for centuries thanks to exactly that. really inspiring.
That's nice,they literally take the time to take care of the customer.and not just give them a hat not knowing the size of the customers head.
I love how they keep the skill of making these hats alive. Very cool shop.
Lovely, just lovely. Thankful for people like this. May they stay in business FOREVER!
I lived in England for two years and was looking for a souvenir to bring home. I went and bought a bowler from Lock and while I've never worn it in public, it's still something I treasure.
My head was too large, and the top hat was a bit out of my range. But my sizing card remains there when next I'm back for that hat.
What does something like a Top Hat cost? I would love to get one the next time I visit England. I hope I can afford it!
@@henri6595 20 years ago, the bowler was about $350 US if I recall. A top hat was much more expensive - maybe double or more. No idea what they’d want today.
I still think it was worth it.
@@BarryKruse Guess I can't afford a Top Hat even if I wanted one 🤨. Based on what you said the Top Hat would cost $2K USD. I can think of a lot of things to do with $2K 🤔.
Your head was too large? So they have a maximum head size or the custom fit is a lie?
@@henri6595 check out the website!🤠
It's where John wick will get his hat if he wants one.
Oo
With a secret compartment in the hat to hide his pencil ✏️
@@erickm119 or extra pistol clip.
That JOKE doesn't work.
Like in anyway at all.
I would so love to go here and get a hat from these folks the care and attention is just off the charts.
When your history is so incredible that a bomb landing inside ur shop and nearly exploding is only a small small detail
When even a bomb had too much respect to explode you know this is a true icon to preserve
Bomb: Oh shit the germans just dropped me on the greatest hat shop ever! Lemme just not explode.
The sad part is, not even that bomb could close the shop, but COVID-19 did for a year...
@@lracfilib The Germans: Please Tell me we _Didn't_ Hit Lock & Co.
@@vampirecount3880 No it wasn't this flu that closed the shop up. It was the government and their power grab in the wake of this sensationalized flu that did.
As a hat lover I find this so interesting. I would love to visit their shop abs purchase a hat during my next visit to London.
Do you wear red hats or green hats?
It’s so amazing seeing stores like this still today. So much history. Things like this just don’t exist today. Hope they stay open for another 300 years.
Major props to their tenacity! 👏👏👏
The mention of them in Kingsman Secret Service couldnt have hurt.
Being in a movie isn't important in this store history, it's a pretty useless information
Why do i enjoy watching amazing craftmanship videos regardless of the subject. Watch making, glass blowing, knife/sword forging, and now hat making. Does anyone else know of a skilled craftmans at work.
A good example of IF SOMETHING WORKS KEEP IT UP.
Now this is art!
4:46 _"You're charging me that much? It's not like I'm going to be buried with it!"_
_"Um..."_
That comfortmater look steampunk
*Conformateur
But it's not, it's a real thing with a real purpose. Not some hipster trash that has no function other than to look "cool".
Everything is steam punk after brit invent steam engine
For American's, when Brits refer to culture, this is what they mean. A hat shop older than the USA. I might have to visit this shop when I visit this area just for the experience sake.
"we can't just let anyone cross the channel in a dinghy, it's destroying our [350 year old hat shop]"
Wow you're right!
To the anglophile. All the things everyone else on earth has been doing that are different than the English before the English decided to conquer them and force them to live a different way and in poverty was culture too.
@anon anon your comment makes zero sense
"There's a hat for that"
- Lock & Co., probably.
It's a real shame that most businesses aren't based on this model anymore! It's become a throwaway world! The cheaper the better! The small multi generation businesses are mostly gone, it's so sad!
I think this is partly due to how car based we are, especially the USA and Canada. In the space that you can put one burger shop with a parking lot, you can put 5 buildings, that can sell many various things, unlike the burger shop, which if out of business would never manage to become something other than a fast food place with a giant parking lot.
Not to mention I'm much more likely to order a hat online than drive to a shop. If I could walk or bike to the shop it would be much different.
Absolutely bang on but back then they really built things to last..
Boohoo
@@_R_R_R found the njb viewer
And also yeah I agree
Because most idiots shop at wal-mart to feel like they’re saving money. That’s where all the Middle American shops like this went. You can’t be sad about this story if you shop at wal-mart. You’re part of the cause.
If this store were a person, their resume would just have a list of all the famous people they’ve fitted and all the iconic styles they created. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
*bursts through the doors and points at the hat maker*
"hat man i am going into battle and i want your strongest hat"
When I watching this I suddenly taste these words in my mouth:
Feels like I need one
Gross
@@aaronm.3581 what is gross ?
Ew
Hats off to the head designer. So many pun opportunities in this video and I could only come up with this
U gotta start thinking a-head
This story is rather amazing. A relatively unassuming shop in front with such an extraordinary history. Love the way he says, "Okay, we have electric lights..." as if they just put them in yesterday and he's somewhat embarassed about it lol
There was a bespoke hat shop in Norwich; Rumsey Wells, but sadly, despite a successful past, lack of demanding for quality fitted hats caused it's eventual closure. 😞
It's the same story as the cobbler, because of the toss away culture that has developed people rather just toss a pair of shoes and buy new ones instead of having them repaired which has essentially killed the cobbler. A few still exist in some places but not many.
That's so beautiful to know that store's like these still exist, london has alot of businesses that are pretty old..
I am so proud to be British. This is one form of business i wish lasts till the end of time. Amazing work gentlemen
Bri'ish
1:43
I heard "head designer" as "head" designer, gave me a good giggle lmao
Hope they remain in business even after another 100 years ;)
Being a head designer here is literally designing for heads lol
I think they should call surgeons who specialise in circumcisions that.
This made me so happy. I love to see people making things instead of AI /Machines.
You clearly have no knowledge of the difficulty behind writing "AI" code then.
I don't think modern hats are made through AI tho
@@ccva780 Sure, I have an idea, but that's not my point.
@@loon7181 *machines
People make AI and machines lol.
Fascinating! My aunt was a millner.
I have multiple hats from L&H and I have loved all of them. I give them as gifts now to close friends. Finding out someones hat size can be a fun conversation since most people are ignorant of that particular measurement.
I'm waiting for that head measuring contraption to say Gryffindor!
I love my Lock and Co top hat. It’s 109 years old and just got restored a couple of months ago there
This need to spread, and kept for many many years to come.
I always admire families who continues their family business, it's so rare these days
You know that when you’ve earned the title of master hatter you’ve made a good life of yourself
I live in the United States and it feels like hats are a thing of the past here. When I watch old movies and see the hats it makes me wish they would become popular again.
Make Hats Great Again.
I wear a hat in summer to protect from the sun
Amazing shop. The old artifacts still in use, the way they work and all that gorgeous hasta. Lovely.
I wish hats for men and women would come back in style.
Same, but it’s pretty easy to pull off, just get the right one with the right fit
....I...I looked outside earlier today, and then went to get coffee....I saw...men and women wearing hats!!!! Hats are still a thing and men and women, everyone, wears them! I don't think wearing....hats..went out of style ever.
@@seanothepop4638 maybe he's from third world, idk he may refer to elegant hats and that type of style
Tell us you're bald without telling us you're bald.
Hats have always been in style, it is we who have left style.
Bring hats back now 😔
I felt a jolt of true happiness looking at some of these pieces.
Let's start wearing them. That is all it takes.
I’ve been in there, through work, not as a customer.
It does feel like you have gone back in time to a completely different era. I really enjoyed it.
I don't know why but I want a boler hat from here. Probably wouldn't wear it but once or twice, but just having something of such quality would be great.
I appreciate your time and effort in making your hat's. True Art.
I always love it when old stores are still open
So all celebrities in movies must have a head piece here.
This is the place that Harry Hart referred Valentine to in the movie, Kingsman: The Secret Service.
Honestly just happy to see a quality handmade product out there still especially that old
Am I the only one who thinks that head measuring device looks like a torture device. 😂
tbh you’re the only one
Similar design, but different functionality.
Yes
Me either
This hat shop has the same vibes of Ollivanders in Diagon Alley.
Ollivanders sold hats?
Yes it does. The Harry Potter world is almost 87% steampunk.
@@abhishekgoel8472 Yes he did. Remember the iconic line? "The hat chooses the head Mister Hatter, never forget that".
@@BlueSkyCountry Not 86, not 88, but exactly 87%
@@naveen5126 It's an inside joke, from one of the largest and most popular web forums in existence today. Figure it out... 🙂 I'll give you a hint. What is the most popular and widely used semiautomatic rifle today, for target shooting, deer/varmint hunting, and home defense, that most armed citizens own at least 1 of?
This is the dream job of being able to let that artistic mind flow with no barriers in place
Wow, I would really love to get a hat.
Thank you for sharing this. I'm glad that skilled labor still exists in the world and wish that I could afford to patronize them.
This is probably the most surprisingly fascinating thing I have seen in years.
Wow congrats to the leadership of their Team 👌🏾
I never thought a hat would be in my bucket list
Places like these are like treasures from times passed. Preservation of these things helps keep them from being forgotten. Sometimes old methods could (in some cases) can be better than what we have now. IF I had the means, I would travel to London one day and get me a nice custom-made fedora. If the quality is as advertised, I'd probably keep it like I would my valuables.
I wonder how much a Lord Nelson hat would cost to order today? To be made by (almost) the same techniques by the same company that made the originals would definitively be an invaluable and beautiful piece of art to have around. Lovely video!
Their website has prices ranging from 100 pounds all the way past 7k pounds. I'm trying to decide which style I like.
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing it. Before, people learned new things in libraries 📚, nowadays in UA-cam.