La Nina Means Another Cold Winter

October 28, 2011

With the coming of La Niña, much of the country is set to endure another season of cold temperatures. Stay warm this winter, both indoors and outdoors, with cozy items from David Morgan.

 

Lothlorian's Koru Socks

Koru socks are from New Zealand and made of possum fur. The feet are padded with grips in the shape of a koru, which means, ‘fern frond’ in Maori. The smooth fibers of possum fur have hollow cores and soft pointed ends.

 

Possum fur blended with Merino wool and nylon gives a strong, luxurious yarn that is extremely lightweight and soft. The yarn wears well, is easy to care for and resists pilling.

 

Stanfield's Union Suit

 

Our long underwear from Stanfield’s is made of 80 percent wool and 20 percent nylon. Wool is superior to synthetics for wicking away moisture while its anti-microbial properties keep odors from building up.

 

These will scratch at first, but trust us, after a few washes, they’ll be soft against your skin, keeping you warm and comfortable all throughout winter.

 

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Possum Fur

Stanfields

 

 

Stampede String Video Available

September 30, 2011

For those of you who love our kangaroo leather chinstraps but don’t have hooks in your hat, you can now use a David Morgan stampede string.

 

Identical to our chinstraps, except for the ends, they are light and durable. A sliding knot joins together the two, four plait braids. It is ideal for both our Heritage Collection and Panama hats.

 

Watch the video below to for instructions on attaching the stampede string. You can also get written instructions here.

 

 

 

 

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Stampede Strings

Hat Accessories

 

 

 

 

 

New Jewelry from Cavin Richie

September 2, 2011

All of our Cavin Richie jewelry pieces are top sellers. Cavin captures the spirit of every animal he carves. Each is accurately detailed down to the texture of the animal’s skin or fur. His line includes birds, mammals and amphibians. For the past thirty years he has carved with shed elk antler and woolly mammoth ivory. These carvings became the basis for his lost wax casting jewelry.

 

We are pleased to offer these solid bronze lost wax castings. A patina complements the earthy metal, giving each piece a unique finish. The fishhook earrings have hypoallergenic (gray niobium) hooks.

 

 

Long Eared Bat Pendant with cord

Long-Eared Bat Pendant, available also as earrings.

 

 

Crow Two Beaded Necklace

Crow Necklace

 

 

Sea Turtle Two Beaded Necklace

Sea Turtle Necklace, also available as earrings.

 

 

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Cavin Richie Jewelry

Stampede Strings

August 4, 2011

Our hand-crafted chinstraps work great for hats with chinstrap hooks. But how can you take advantage of the quality of kangaroo leather when you don’t have hooks?

 

David Morgan’s new stampede string work simply by slipping the cotter pins underneath the sweatband and then bending the pins to keep the hooks in place.

 

Follow these simple instructions and you’re set!

 

Slide pins through the sweatband

Hold the cotter pins together and slide them between the stitches at the base of the sweatband. A pair of pliers can be helpful.

 

Pull the pins all the way through

Pull them all the way through until the leather braid touches the sweatband.

 

Bend the pins

 

 

Bend the pins outward, as close to horizontal as possible, so they will not slip back through the sweatband.

 

Finished look

This is how it should look beneath the sweatband.

 

 

 

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Chinstraps

Braided Leather Goods

 

 

 

 

Tilly’s Airflo: A Lightweight Hat with Superb Sun Protection

June 24, 2011

Tilley's Airflo After this year’s long winter, we’re all ready to make the most out of summer. But amidst the picnics, camping and golf, we can’t forget to protect our heads.

 

Tilley’s Airflo fits the bill. It weighs a mere four ounces and offers excellent skin protection with a UPF rating of 50+. UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor and unlike SPF (Sunlight Protection Factor), the rating includes standards for both Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B waves.

 

The crown contains a polyester mesh for ventilation. Tilley fabricates the sweatband with Hydrofil®, a modern fabric that keeps sweat away from your skin. The hat’s body is composed of Nylamtium®, a nylon that resists water and mildew.

 

The stitched brim is 3-1/2 inches on the front and back and 2-1/2 inches on the sides. You can use the adjustable ties for windy days. The Velcro closure on the small pocket in the crown safely holds a key, card, or cash.

 

Machine wash, air dry. Colors: Natural (with a green under-brim) or Khaki (with an olive under-brim). Made in Canada by Tilley Endurables.

 

 

 

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Tilley Hats

Hat FAQs

American Cowboy Features the Edge Ridge Hat Band

February 4, 2011

American Cowboy recently issued a Collector’s Edition dedicated to John Wayne. Page 46 features a picture of Wayne in traditional western gear. They then list all of the places you can purchase similar items today. We are pleased that American Cowboy recommended David Morgan’s own Edge Ridge Hat Band. The article was written by accomplished Western Stylist Thea Marx.

 

All of our braided hat bands are made of kangaroo leather. Besides being one of the strongest leathers around, kangaroo leather is also supple and light. Not only do we use it for our hat bands, but also for our chin straps and whips.

 

 

 

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Hat Bands

Leather Braided Goods

Kangaroo Lace

September 10, 2010

David Morgan sells two types of lace: hand-cut and machine-cut. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. Use the information below to help plan your next braiding project.

 

 

Hand-Cut Lace:

 

Hand-cut lace is best for small projects, such as hat bands and lanyards. The lace is cut in our own workshop. Unlike a machine, we are able to avoid any scars in the skin.  We stretch and test each roll. There is, at a maximum, only one join per 60 foot roll. Available in black and tan. Sizes: 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch.

 

1/8 inch Hand-Cut Lace

1/8 Inch Hand-Cut Lace

 

Machine-Cut Lace:

 

Machine-cut lace is cheaper than our hand-cut lace and is recommended for beginners. However, a machine cannot navigate around scars and will include weak points in the lace. It is also not stretched and tested. There are usually two to three joins per 50 meters of lace. Available in black and tan. Sizes: 3 mm and 6 mm (approximately 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch).

 

Machine-Cut Lace

1/4 Inch Machine-Cut Lace

 

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Lace Cutters

Kangaroo Skins

The Stylemaster: Akubra Quality in a Classic Design

August 27, 2010

David Morgan is pleased to offer an additional fedora to our line: the Stylemaster.

 

 

Stylemaster

 

Although its elegant design makes it a natural for the city, it doesn’t need any pampering. With Akubra’s quality construction, this fedora will stand up to the rain, snow and sun with no worries.

 

The pinched telescope crown starts at 4 1/4 inches at the front, rises to 4 3/4 inches on the side and then drops to 3 7/8 inches in the back. The 2 1/2 inch bound brim snaps down in front. Pure fur felt in Akubra’s Imperial Quality. The hat is fully lined and has a 1 1/2 inch grosgrain band. Carbon Grey.

 

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Akubra Hats

 

Our Moccasins: The Hinman Tradition Continues

July 16, 2010

Moccasins have been a part of the American landscape for hundreds of years. Soft and comfortable, their popularity has never waned. Many wear them around the home or in the outdoors. The soft and supple leather fits like a second skin.

 

Our leather moccasins are made by the Geier Glove Company in Centralia, Washington. Geier purchased the business from the Hinman family. In 1960, Fred Hinman, a taxidermist, began crafting the moccasins using the traditional style. 

 

David Morgan sells three types of moccasins. The Leather Moose Moccasin with the high ankle or low ankle, and the Leather Bison Moccasin (low ankle) with Sole.

 

High Moose Moccasins

High Moose Leather Moccasins

 

Low Moose Moccasins

Low Moose Leather Moccasins

 

Low Bison Moccasins with Sole

Low Bison Moccasins Leather with Sole

 

 

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David Morgan Moccasins

Our Western Inheritance

 

 

 

Karaka Whips

June 10, 2010

Although David Morgan is known for its leather whips, we understand the cost can be prohibitive for some.  Since many new whip enthusiasts aren’t sure if they want to pay the price for a leather whip, we provide a synthetic version made by Karaka of New Zealand.

 

Karaka Products is one of New Zealand’s leading providers of whips.  Because the whips are synthetic, the cost is much lower than a leather whip.  They are also low maintenance.  Not only can they get wet, but they work well even when wet.  They can be used in the snow or mud.  And if you get them dirty, water will clean them.  They do not rot, will not break easily, and are maintenance free.  They do not stretch, and there is no need to add any dressing.  Inexperienced users can feel secure knowing that they will not damage the whip.

 

While you can find a cheap whip on Ebay, they will likely be too light, too loose, and a real challenge to crack.   Don’t buy a wall hanger, get started in the right direction with a Karaka.

 

Karaka 6 foot stockwhip

Karaka Stockwhip (6 ft)

 

Karaka 8 foot bullwhip

Karaka Bullwhip (8 ft)

 

 

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Karaka Whips

Leather Whips