Hester's Reindeer Faux Fur Hat
Hester's Reindeer Faux Fur Hat
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Hester's Reindeer Faux Fur Hat
Hester’s final collection · Rothbury, Northumberland
A soft, spotted winter hat, sewn one at a time in a little room above an old ironmonger’s.
Only 386 left · sewing room closes 20 December
“Wear it on the coldest day you’ve got. That’s what I made it for.”
“They’re fawn spots, of course. Reindeer don’t have spots. Try telling that to forty years of Rothbury children.”
– Hester Robson, 72
What arrives at your door
- ✓One Reindeer Hat in the style you choose: Bucket Brim, Snow Cuff or Little Ears
- ✓Plush fawn-spotted faux fur, caramel with soft cream spots
- ✓One size that fits most adult heads
- ✓Dispatched within 1–2 working days
What makes Hester’s hats different
The spots all run one way
Every piece is laid out by hand so the pattern flows in one direction. It looks like a single little fawn, not a patchwork of offcuts.
Warm, but feather-light
Thick, plush faux fur keeps the warmth in, yet the hat weighs almost nothing. No pressure on your hair, no headache after an hour.
Brims finished by hand
A few hundred stitches go into every brim and cuff, with the brass thimble Hester’s mother wore at the draper’s in Alnwick.
Springs back into shape
Squash it into a coat pocket or a handbag. Pull it out at the bus stop and it fluffs right back up.
No real fur. None.
The softness is all faux fur. No animal was involved, just the look of a young deer at the edge of the woods.
One pattern since 1986
The Little Ears is the very hat Hester sewed for her daughter’s first Christmas lights switch-on. She never saw a reason to change it.
Three styles, one family of spots
Bucket Brim
A soft, wide brim all the way round. Keeps sleet and low winter sun out of your eyes and looks smart with a wool coat.
Snow Cuff
Spotted crown with a thick cream fur roll. Pull the cuff down over your ears on the coldest mornings.
Little Ears
The 1986 original: a snug round hat with two small ears on top. The one grannies buy “for the grandchildren” and keep.
How to wear it
Hold the hat by the brim or cuff and give it a gentle shake. The fur fluffs up on its own.
Pull it on from the back to the front so it sits just above your eyebrows. The seam goes at the back.
Snow Cuff: roll the cuff down over your ears when the wind picks up, up again when you step inside.
A shop-bought fur hat vs. Hester’s hat
| Typical high-street hat | Hester’s Reindeer Hat | |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern | Spots cut at random, seams break the print | Spots lined up by hand on every piece |
| Brim / cuff | Machine-hemmed in seconds | Finished by hand, stitch by stitch |
| Weight | Stiff lining, heavy on the head | Plush but light, no pressure |
| Shape | Flattens after a few weeks | Springs back after the pocket |
| Who made it | A production line | Hester, at her cutting table in Rothbury |
Made by hand in Rothbury
The sewing room sits up a narrow flight of stairs above an old ironmonger’s on the high street, with the Simonside hills right behind the rooftops. Since 1986 Hester has cut, pinned, sewn and brushed more than 11,000 Reindeer Hats there, most of them in the long dark months between October and March.
Her thumbs can’t push a needle through faux fur backing all day any more, so this winter is the last. The 386 hats on her shelves are the final ones, and she wants them worn, not stored.
With love from Rothbury, Hester
Perfect for
Hester’s standard
✓Every piece cut by hand with the spots lined up
✓Every brim and cuff finished by hand
✓Steamed and brushed before it leaves the room
✓Checked by Hester, one hat at a time
Questions people ask Hester
Why are they called Reindeer Hats if the spots are a fawn’s?
Because a little boy at the 1986 Christmas lights switch-on in Rothbury shouted “She’s got a reindeer on her head!” when he saw Hester’s daughter. Rothbury never called them anything else.
Will it fit me?
The hats are one size and fit most adult heads. The faux fur has a little give, so it sits snug without squeezing. Many customers order the Little Ears for teenagers and grandchildren too.
Which style is the warmest?
The Snow Cuff, because the cream fur roll can be pulled down over your ears. The Bucket Brim is the favourite for town and church, the Little Ears for anyone who likes a bit of fun.
Can I order several styles at once?
Yes. Choose how many hats you would like, then pick a style for each one. Many families order one for every generation.
90-day money-back guarantee. Wear it on your coldest morning. If it doesn’t win you over, send it back within 90 days and you get your money back. No questions, no fuss.
Care
Brush gently with a soft brush to keep the fur fluffy. For small marks, spot-clean with cool water and a drop of mild soap, then let it dry flat at room temperature. Keep it away from radiators, hair dryers and the tumble dryer: heat flattens faux fur. One size fits most adults; if you are between sizes, the Bucket Brim is the most forgiving.
Product details
| Styles | Bucket Brim, Snow Cuff, Little Ears |
| Material | Plush faux fur, no real animal fur |
| Colour | Caramel with cream fawn spots (Snow Cuff with cream cuff) |
| Size | One size, fits most adult heads |
| Made by | Hester Robson, Rothbury, Northumberland |
| Availability | Final collection, 386 hats |
| Shipping | Dispatched within 1–2 working days |
| Guarantee | 90-day money-back guarantee |
Before You Order
When will my order ship?
The maker keeps a small number finished and ready. Orders ship straight from the workshop within 3 business days, and you'll get a tracking number the moment it's on its way. If a batch sells out, the page will say so honestly — and you can join the waitlist for the next one.
What if it arrives damaged or I don't love it?
You have 60 days to change your mind — send it back for a full refund, no questions asked. And if anything ever fails on it, the County Craft Guarantee covers repairs or replacement for life, handled directly with the maker.
Is every piece really made by one person?
Yes. Every piece is made start to finish by one maker — cut, finished, signed, and wrapped by hand. That's why batches are small and why yours will carry a hand-written number.
Will mine look exactly like the photos?
Almost — but not perfectly, and that's the point. Natural materials vary in grain and tone, so every piece is one of a kind. What never varies is the craftsmanship behind it.
Is it a good gift?
It's our most-gifted item. Every order arrives hand-wrapped in kraft paper with twine and a signed note from the maker — no receipt in the box, so it ships straight to the lucky person.