Detroit Wool Felt Hat

Conner Hats, headed by Will Conner, is a continuation of the legacy of his father Bill's business, BC Hats. Will's travels as a young man gave him an appreciation for how humans affect the world. Will makes it company policy to tread lightly and consider the wider outcome of business decisions. "I believe we can make a positive change," Will says. "Thoughtful actions can improve the health of business while reducing negative impact on cultures and ecosystems alike. Our goal is to promote long-term thinking and to really consider future generations with every product we create and every decision we make as a brand." The wool used in Conner Hats is cruelty free. Recycled and organic materials are used wherever possible. both in the hats and in the packaging. We carried BC Hats for many years, up until Bill's retirement during the pandemic, and are now pleased to offer these Conner Hats.

To create the world's first cruelty-free wool hat, Conner Hats first had to go back through their supply chain and make sure only wool from farms in Australia that do not practice Mulesing was purchased, then track that specific wool from their distributor in China to their factory. Each shipment is certified Non-Mulesed wool and all parties, including the sheep, are very happy with the results. Mulesing is the removal of chunks of skin on the buttocks of the sheep to stop a disease called Flystrike. Over 20 million Merino lambs are historically Mulesed in Australia each year. There are alternatives to this cruel practice. It took Conner Hats approximately two years to sort out the details to ensure their hats are manufactured with cruelty-free wool. There are more and more Australian farms with a holistic approach to sheep farming so more non-Mulesed wool is available now. You can read more about cruelty-free wool at NewMerino.com.au.