Returns, Care and FAQs
For anything not answered below, email me directly at Ben@VandreBrand.com. Vandre is a team of one, so the person who answers is me.
A few helpful videos:
- Learn more about Vandre, the story, and why headwear
- What makes our fabrics unique
- Quick tips on caring for your Vandre hat
Frequently Asked Questions
What is your return policy?
Free shipping, free returns. If a hat isn't right, send it back within 30 days, unworn and with the tags on, for a full refund. Email me your order number at Ben@VandreBrand.com and I'll send you a return label. Your refund goes out as soon as the hat lands back here.
Where are Vandre hats made?
My Made in USA 100% Organic Cotton hats are designed in Chicago and cut, sewn, and assembled in New York, and my Italian wool hat is handmade in the USA too. The Irish linen and wool flannel hats are designed in Chicago and handcrafted overseas to my exact specification. If you want the full story of bringing cotton production home, I wrote about it in Eight Years in the Making.
How do I choose between the fabrics?
Start with the weather. Irish linen is light and breathable, so it's the one for warm days. Wool flannel is substantial and holds warmth, which is what you want when it turns cold, and the cashmere beanies take over from there in real winter. Made in USA cotton sits in the middle and wears year round, so it's the easiest place to start if you're only buying one. Most people end up with more than one anyway. The hat you reach for in July isn't the hat you want in January. My hat guide goes through it in more detail.
How should I style a Vandre hat?
These are built to look intentional rather than sporty, so they go with a lot more than weekend clothes. Keep it simple: a neutral color that works with what you already own, no loud branding, and a gentle curve in the brim. In warm weather the linen hat sits well with a lightweight sport coat or a good tee, and when it turns cold the wool flannel belongs with a topcoat and knitwear. For more, see Dressing Up a Baseball Hat.
What size are your hats? Do they fit larger heads?
Every hat is one size fits most, dialed in with a 100% leather adjustable strap. The Made in USA cotton, wool flannel, and Irish linen hats all share the same mid-profile fit, which is great for average and larger heads. The wool houndstooth is a low profile, so it suits average heads and smaller. The Italian wool hat has a deeper profile and works best on average heads and above. The cashmere beanie is a ribbed knit that stretches to fit just about anyone.
Are your hats really 100% of the fabric?
Yes. The outer shell of each hat is exactly what it says: 100% Irish linen, 100% wool flannel, 100% organic cotton, or 100% cashmere. The linen and wool hats have a moisture-wicking performance lining, so the shell is 100% linen or wool while the lining is polyester. The Made in USA cotton hat is the exception. It's pure cotton inside and out, with a 100% Egyptian cotton lining and no polyester against your head.
Important Tip: The Break-In Period
When your hat arrives, give it a little time to form to your head. Think of a good pair of leather dress shoes. They're stiff for a week and then they're the pair you reach for. The wool flannel and Irish linen hats have a semi-structured front that molds with wear. Linen can show light creasing early on and softens as you wear it, and a light misting of water helps it settle. Wool flannel sometimes has a small indent at first, which relaxes. To speed things along, give the brim a deeper curve than you think you want and wear it a little snug for the first few wears.
How do I care for my Vandre hat?
Every hat gets cleaned by hand, never in the machine, and the method is the same whether it's linen, wool, or cotton.
Most marks only need a spot clean. Dampen a soft white cloth in cool water with a drop of gentle detergent, then blot from the outside of the stain inward, pressing and lifting instead of rubbing.
For a deeper clean, submerge the hat in cool water with a little detergent made for delicates. Move it gently for a few minutes, then rinse until the water runs clear. Lift the hat out and let the excess water run off on its own, then reshape the crown and brim and hang it to dry from the leather strap or the brim. It'll be dry by morning.
A few things to avoid:
- Warm or hot water, which can shrink the fabric
- The washing machine and the dryer
- Wringing, pressing, or squeezing the water out
- Drying it on a radiator, in a hot car, or in the sun
The full guides go deeper on stains, the sweatband, and what each fabric needs:
- How to Clean a Baseball Hat Without Ruining It, the complete system for every fabric
- How to Care for an Irish Linen Baseball Hat
- How to Care for a Wool Baseball Hat
- How to Care for a Cotton Baseball Hat
How do I care for my cashmere beanie?
The beanie is the one exception. It's dry clean only, and it's happier folded in its bag than hung, so it keeps its shape. Don't worry about a little pilling, that's normal with fine cashmere. A cashmere comb keeps it looking right.
Do you offer custom or bulk orders?
Sometimes, depending on the project. Email me at Ben@VandreBrand.com and we can talk through what you have in mind.
Who makes Vandre hats?
Vandre is a team of one. I'm Ben, also known as Dapper Professional. I design every hat, source every fabric, and pack and ship every order myself. The full story is on my About page.
Finding a Cure and Our Commitment
No cause is more important to Vandre than helping find a cure for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Today, medications can only try to slow ALS and ease the pain and discomfort of its symptoms.
ALS remains uncured, but it is not incurable, which is why we commit an annual percentage of our revenue, not profit, to the research team at ALS TDI.
My father's entrepreneurial spirit lives on in everything I do, and it is a driving force behind Vandre. Thank you, Dad.