Coastal hat plaited with 1/4-inch Alaska red cedar bark collected on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska. This type of coastal rain hat is indigenous to tribes from Vancouver Island up the Inside Passage into Cook Inlet and west to portions of the Aleutian Islands.

Two suede strands dyed turquoise are attached to the headband and can be used to secure the hat to the head.

Even unadorned, The Minimalist is ready to be worn for ceremony, dance, or stylish attire. While this is not a flamboyant piece, it does have several quality refinements.  The sweep of the four points raising above the hollowed crown is a classy feature.  The crisply folded brim is neat and serves to retain the shape of the hat, even when actually worn in the rain.  The diameter of the hat brim is minimal making The Minimalist easily worn when very active, or wearing layers of cloak, jacket, tunic, vest or robe.  If the wearer is paddling, dancing, singing, cooking, serving, playing or lecturing, this little hat will be easy to wear throughout the day.

A buyer could embellish or adorn the hat to their own liking immediately on receiving the shipment, or later on.  Some embellishment options to consider are:

•       Painting, solid color or designs on the surface

•       Embellish the crown or brim with found or collected items

•       Adorn the hat with a personal Icon such as fur, stone, bone, shell

•       Or combinations of the above.

The four ply cedar bark head-band is 23" in circumference; that's hat size 71/4 to 71/2. The crown measure 3.5 inches across; hat is 7 inches tall; 13 inches in diameter at the brim.

Photo Gallery. By Lois Chichinoff Thadei. $250.00 (#1160)