About FINO FINO

About Fino Fino

I opened my shop in the spring of 1994 with several purposes in mind. Foremost, there were no hat shops on the entire San Francisco peninsula, and being a hat-wearer all my life, I knew there were others like me out there who were not satisfied with the quality or selection generally available. I also had a long-time interest in the art of the hand-woven Panama hat. I was aware that the finest, the Montecristis,were an "endangered species" and only available in a few places in this country or around the world. Fine Panamas are graded (about like diamonds are) and one of the finest grades is the "fino fino." Since my space (then at the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park) was small I had decided to have only the very best. "Fino Fino" seemed like the perfect name for my shop.

Everyone understands "hand-woven" and "handmade," but I found that "hand blocked" is the key to fine hats. You put a machine-blocked, and usually highly varnished or heavily sized, hat on several people and it looks like the identical stiff hat on each one. The "same" hand-blocked hat on several different heads will look like different hats given the wearer's head shape and just in the way that individual puts it on their head. Both hand-woven and hand-blocked assures there are no two absolutely identical hats. Hand-blocking is also an art that has been on the verge of extinction. A good blocker works with the straw or felt in much the same manner a good hair cutter works with the growth pattern of your hair. My search has not only uncovered the few "masters" of the art, but found, especially in women's designer hats, a surprising number of young milliners coming up. As hats come back in fashion, greatly due to the concerns of sun protection, it appears there is going to be no lack of talented milliners to fill the demand for fine quality headwear. The criteria I have established for my milliners is the finest of materials and workmanship, good taste and good design, all of which generally go hand-in-hand. I will strive to keep abreast of new designers, but always with this criteria and the consideration of my clientele in mind.

I don't believe there is such a thing as a person who cannot wear a hat. When someone tells me that, I feel sure they just haven't found the right one yet. And, I would love to help everyone find that perfect hat. Since a hat is a very personal item, and each hand-woven and hand-blocked hat is unique, it makes it a difficult item to mail order. And, of course, there is also the challenge of fitting it properly, especially in the case of the Panamas. I hope that your travels will bring you to the San Francisco Bay Area so that you may visit my store in person. If that is just not possible, give me a call and perhaps we can figure it out together. My purpose in providing this website is to introduce a wider audience to fine hats and invite them to visit Fino Fino at 325 Sharon Park Dr., Menlo Park, CA 94025. The phone number is (650)854-8030 and you may also e-mail me at finehats@finofino.com

I hope you find this site interesting and informative and that it inspires you to come to visit. I look forward to meeting you.

Carolyn Busch, Proprietor