Faded riding hat - any suggestions

[Flicker]

My riding hat is perfectly safe and protects my head. However, it is a few years old and the black velvet has faded to a rather grubby shade of brown. Not a great look for competitions. Any brilliant suggestions for restoring the black (I don't really want to have to dip in for a new one when the existing one is still perfectly functional).

 

[cronkmooar]

Margaret Ogden recovers them - its about £60 for velvet colour of your choice and will send swatches.


Just looked and can't find her number but if you PM her on Horse Gossip she will respond quickly - user name gadabout

I had a really old herbert johnson redone by her for use in hand and you would think it was new.

I personally wouldn't put anything on the hat to dye it as it might affect the structure

 

[SpottedCat]

If it is a) a few years old and b) faded, it suggests it has had quite a lot of exposure to UV light, which damages the protective capabilities of the hat. Add that to the fact that regardless of whether or not you've fallen off in them, hats should be replaced every 4-5 years anyway because of degradation of the protective capabilities, and I'd personally be forking out for the new hat, not paying to have it recovered....for not a lot more than the recovering you can buy a lovely velvet hat - and you can get them for quite a lot less!

 

[juliette]

Personnally from what you've said it sounds like you are due a new hat! They do deteriorate over time.

 

[middlebank]

A quick and easy sort is shoe polish and apply with a soft brush, the navy velvet on my tweed jacket collar had faded and it came up great but careful a little polish goes a long way!