Creative Capital: How this former optician started a Panama hat business in Singapore

CNA Lifestyle

Creative Capital: How this former optician started a Panama hat business in Singapore

Long-fourth dimension expatriate Pecker Cain moved to Singapore in 1989 and has been here e'er since. He says that Singapore is most ideal to wear a Panama chapeau, with its perennial summertime and being on the same latitude as Republic of ecuador.

xiii Oct 2022 06:39AM (Updated: 08 Jul 2022 11:59PM)

Bill Cain is a dapper man. With his white beard and ubiquitous Panama chapeau on his head, he reminds me of Ernest Hemingway. Like Hemingway, Bill is a long-time expatriate, having left his native Canada – because he hated the cold – back in 1981. He moved to Singapore in 1989 and has been here ever since.

Neb has always loved hats. Wearing one was something his father did, and something that became one of Neb'southward ain manner signifiers when he came an adult. The Panama hat, existence lightweight and cooling, is arguably the most sensible lid for the tropics. Only attempt every bit he might, Neb could non find one regionally that met his standards.

Nib's career was in the mobility and relocation businesses. That meant a lot of travel and as well as access to other businesses effectually the world. A decades-long hunt for the best possible Panama hat eventually led him to Ecuador. This then led to the establishment of Chapeau of Cain in 2012.

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Throughout the infancy stages of the brand, Nib focused on building a potent supply chain of distributors who sourced from the finest weavers in Ecuador. After six years, and confident that Lid of Cain was producing some of the very best hats on the market, Pecker decided to retire from his day job and focus entirely on Hat of Cain.

Mobility wasn't Pecker'south commencement vocation actually. Earlier he left Canada, he was an optician. When we met, he told me one of the things he loves most about his electric current task really harkens dorsum to those days as an optician. He enjoys making people feel good and confident through their accessories. For him, seeing a customer beam when putting on the perfect hat is akin to helping someone observe the right glasses that suit his or her face and personality.

To bank check out the drove, head over to Bill'southward salon along Joo Chiat Road. You'll near probable detect him there savouring a fine whisky and cigar, planning his next collection of hats.

OF ALL THE MANY THINGS IN THE Earth, HOW DID YOU Terminate Upwards WANTING TO OWN A Lid COMPANY?

I was preparing to exit the corporate world after being in the moving industry for 30 years. Back in the day when I was an optician, I enjoyed making people await and experience good about themselves with bully products that I fully believed in. I've always loved hats and not being able to buy a good quality hat in Asia prompted me to do something most it.

WHAT WERE THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS' REACTION TO You lot STARTING THE Business organization?

My wife, Charlotte, knew near my love for Panama hats and encouraged me to follow my passion. And to exercise something well-nigh it. Over breakfast with the family i day in 2012, we put our thinking caps on and decided go for it. We gear up a company and aptly named information technology Lid of Cain. From there, my daughter and son-in-law assisted with designing the logo and website. The business was upward and running in no time, thanks to the great support from family and friends.

Delight TELL ME MORE ABOUT PANAMA HATS? WHAT IS THEIR HISTORY AND ARE ALL PANAMA HATS FROM PANAMA?

The history of the iconic Panama hat should be adequately straight forward. Or so one would recollect. As far back as the 16^th century, the making of Panama hats centered around a cottage industry within the coastal communities of Republic of ecuador. In the 19^th Century, the straw hats were traded through the Isthmus in Panama. That was the gateway to the eastern United States and Europe where their popularity grew thanks in part to visiting hat-makers. Well-dressed men and women in the USA and Europe were captivated by these finely woven hats. The hats were coined the "Panama hat" on account of their point of trade rather than their country of origin.

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When Theodore Roosevelt was photographed wearing a Panama hat whilst visiting the construction of the Panama Canal, he instantly elevated the prototype of the Panama hat with its signature black band beyond its circumference to iconic status. From then on, this became the epitome of elegance and sophistication amongst the social aristocracy, function of their de rigueur attire in their pursuit for new earth domains and territories. Its popularity grew and this trademark await found its way into popular media and civilization through films as personified past the silver screen's heroes and adventurers.

WHAT SETS A High QUALITY PANAMA Hat Autonomously FROM OTHERS? HOW CAN A LAYPERSON TELL?

The all-time way to describe a comparison is to regard the Panama hats like fine carpets; the finer the weave the longer it takes to produce and the more valuable. On closer inspection, yous can discern the subtle difference in texture and fineness of straw.

There are as many as fifteen people involved in the process of making a Panama hat. It begins with harvesting the shoots from the Carludovica (toquilla) palm which are grown on the coastal region of Ecuador. The shoots are cooked in humid water as this procedure will cause the green shoots to lose their colour. They are and then cured in sulphur before leaving them to dry out out under the sun.

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The straws are so handed over to the weavers. Depending on the fineness of the intended chapeau, the weavers will carve up the harbinger appropriately. Once the straws are fully woven, the hoods are then sold to exporters where the hats are blocked into shape. The hats are given finishing touches such every bit sewing of the sweatband and headband and therefore ready for export globally.

IS SINGAPORE A Lid-WEARING State?

Singapore is almost platonic to wear a Panama lid, with its perennial summer and being on the same latitude as Ecuador. Panama hats are great for sun protection. And they give yous that extra bit of mode.

I'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY JUST DON'T Look Good IN HATS. WHAT'South YOUR Have ON THIS?

I recollect everyone can look good in a hat, given the right style and fit. People often say they don't look good in a hat considering they might have not gotten the correct advice on what is suitable and the correct fit. At that place is a chapeau out in that location for everyone, it but takes a little more fourth dimension to notice that perfect hat.

I ordinarily say, "Well, let's try on a few styles just for fun!" In almost cases, we are able to find one that is just right!

WHAT HAS BEEN THE TOUGHEST Claiming RUNNING HAT OF CAIN THAT You'VE HAD TO OVERCOME?

Introducing the Panama lid to Singapore and the regional markets before the social media wave. It was a lot of work to create and increase sensation of the hat's history, culture and tradition and the artisanal efforts that go into making these beautiful products. In 2016, these artisans received their much deserved recognition when UNESCO inducted them into its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. That helped a lot!

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AND WHAT HAS BEEN THE PROUDEST?

Having my ain hat salon and the recognition of Chapeau of Cain every bit the go-to hat brand in Singapore. Reading the reviews on Tripadvisor, Google and other social media platforms. I am grateful for the social media exposure the brand has received from people wearing our hats and tagging united states of america in their travel adventures.

WHERE CAN PEOPLE Discover YOUR HATS? ARE YOU Available GLOBALLY OR JUST Hither IN SINGAPORE FOR At present?

We are stocked in several locations around Singapore such equally selected Benjamin Barker outlets, the Raffles Hotel, Six Senses Maxwell, Metro Paragon and Tanjong Beach Club.

Our hats are also available at Nihi Sumba Resort, Sanchaya, Nikoi and Cempadek islands in Indonesia and the Tavern in Denmark. We transport globally for those who can't visit united states of america in Singapore.

WHO ARE YOUR CORE CUSTOMERS? HOW Practice PEOPLE Observe You lot?

Our customer base of operations is a mix of locals, expats and tourists. Almost people find us via social media, through give-and-take-of-mouth and Google.

I NOTICED YOU Offering BESPOKE SERVICES. IS THIS Popular? Practise YOU GET Farthermost OR OUT-OF-THE-BOX REQUESTS?

We offer customisation across colours and grades; this usually takes up to four months. Simply our most pop customisation involves changing the headband to the customer's favourite colour, debossing their initials and calculation feathers. Fortunately, those things can be done inside 20 minutes.

We do have customers who like one-of-a-kind hats and that gives me a run a risk to be creative. I torch hats, add nails, matches, cutting and re-run up them to give them that vintage look.

You'VE BEEN HERE FOR Iii DECADES NOW. HOW HAS SINGAPORE CHANGED IN THE YEARS Y'all'VE BEEN HERE?

When I first visited Singapore in 1981, the only places yous could go to enjoy a beer or Western cuisine were either the hotels or the membership clubs. Await at Singapore today, hosting Michelin-starred restaurants, world renowned rooftop confined... Singapore continues to gear up the bar for the best living standards not just in Asia but for the residual of the world when it comes to lifestyle, wellness and personal security, making Singapore a very desirable and cosmopolitan city to alive in.

Practice You THINK SINGAPORE IS WELCOMING OF Creative ENTREPRENEURS? IS IT Hard TO BUILD A BRAND FROM SCRATCH Here?

Singapore is a swell place for entrepreneurs to be based in because of its effective concern infrastructure and avant-garde eastward-commerce support. It has been very successful in attracting a lot of foreign talent to make Singapore their concern headquarters. Nonetheless, we fall backside our neighbouring countries when it comes to embracing and recognising our local, talented, creative entrepreneurs. The typical expectation of a career hither is to excel in the corporate world and creative takes a dorsum seat.

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In my stance, building a make from scratch takes persistence and subject area. The central is to keep a healthy balance canvas and grow a community of like-minded people who will capeesh your business concern as they become your brand ambassadors.

YOUR WIFE STARTED Boutique FAIRS Back IN 2002, MAKING YOU BOTH BIG SUPPORTERS OF Minor BUSINESSES Here IN SINGAPORE. FROM BOTH YOUR PERSPECTIVES, WHAT'Southward YOUR TAKE ON THE LIFE CYCLE OF INDEPENDENT LIFESTYLE BRANDS?

Independent lifestyle brands can accept longevity if they have the correct product, a sound business model and the right positioning and branding that resonate with the correct target audiences. There are increasingly more than independent lifestyle brands than there were 10 years agone. East-commerce and pop-ups such equally Boutique Fairs have been a boon to these upwards and coming independent brands every bit they give small businesses a head start while keeping overheads low yet giving them a platform to connect and interact with their customers.

WHAT DOES IT Accept TO Make A Immature Contained RETAIL Make SUCCESSFUL?

It takes vision and a solid business plan, you demand to discover the niche that will set your brand apart and have the bulldoze and most of all healthy working majuscule.

DOES YOUR Family FEEL MORE SINGAPOREAN OR CANADIAN?

Nosotros accept lived in Singapore over xxx years. Raising two daughters hither and living here for most office of our lives has actually made this our habitation. Not Canada.

Creative Capital: How this former optician started a Panama hat business in Singapore

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