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Style and substance

Caps have become a fashion statement, what with the sun beating down mercilessly

Cool quotient Caps are hot this season

Cool quotient Caps are hot this season

When the Chennai summer is at its peak, selling caps is big business. But even after it has lost its sting, there is a lot happening in the trade to keep cap sellers busy. This season, cotton baseball caps (Rs. 20 to Rs. 100) are a sell-out. But one can also choose from a variety of caps and hats suited for other seasons. And then, there are fancy headwear meant to add spice to certain occasions. Because of this, cap sellers on Kasi Chetty Street and Sydenhams Road have a steady flow of clients throughout the year.

Khaleel Quraishi of Khaleel Cap Mart regularly meets sizeable orders from companies for their CSR activities or special events. Cap makers like him have indirectly benefited from the IT boom. “Software companies regularly organise fun events for their workforce and caps are an important accessory,” says Tameem Ahmed of Modern Cap House.

“We buy caps once in two months for some event or the other. Sometime ago, we ordered caps carrying our company logo and those of the Indian and South African cricket teams for a match between these countries,” says Shivaganesh, manager, Corporate Communications, Ajuba Solutions. Uniform caps carrying the company logo and name create a sense of togetherness. Corporates are finicky about what their symbols are printed on. And they take time to choose the right hat or cap for the occasion.

“For events on the East Coast Road, most prefer straw hats. Apart from enhancing looks, they keep you cool. At Rs. 25 apiece, they don’t cost much.” Be it an effort to beat the heat or a chill-out corporate function, the baseball cap is way ahead of the other headwear. Corporates prefer it because it is easy-to-wear, universally liked, and the logos and messages stand out when stamped on the area above what is called the ‘beak’ (the protruding sunshade in the front). But when it is time for serious business, companies go through the options. “Cricket hats are not just for cricket. As they are made in felt, they can withstand rough use. Construction companies and film-making units buy them,” says Tameem.

“Workers in the Ennore foundries buy Panama hats,” says Quraishi. “In Chennai, cotton is the preferred fabric. Anything made in cotton sells,” says M. Riyaz Ahmed of Bismillah Cap Mart. Besides baseball caps, fisherman hats (hanging loose on the sides) and skull caps made of cotton are always in demand. Woollen caps do sell at certain times of the year. But the sweltering heat can’t keep fancy caps, however unsuited they are for the prevalent climate. In the city, small, well-rounded hats made in plastic and fitted with artificial flowers have become synonymous with birthday parties. “These are of Chinese make and cost Rs. 10 a piece. Some order a hundred for their child’s birthday, to give them away to those who attend the party,” says Tameem.

Films too contribute to the popularity of certain caps. “People don’t ask for fisherman’s cap anymore. Ever since Sneha wore it in one of her films, it is known by her name. People call Hrithik cap anything that resembles the one he wore in an advertisement. Aamir Khan popularised velvet hats which he wore in “Rangeela,” made in rexin,” says Dinesh Kumar of Manju Novelty. “The golf cap was seen in a different light after the film “Red Rose,” in which Kamal Hasan wears it,” says Tameem.

A huge section is thriving on the popularity of these caps and hats. Not all of the headgear come from factories with automated machines. Most are made with pedal machines by people in less known towns and villages.

PRINCE FREDERICK

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