For the past few months, the question in my head has mostly been how to make the Touring Cap better. Better materials. Better construction. A better chinstrap. A better understanding of where it came from and where it might belong. But the Touring Cap now exists, and it works. So the question has changed to: how much more does it need before it is ready to sell?
Bill Vero’s words carry a lot of weight and are not easy to ignore — “It’s a simple idea. But it’s a good advancement within a sporting cap, for a particular use. You’ve got good materials. You’ve got a good idea. And it’s something slightly different in what could be a very competitive market. But I am sure you could find a niche… And it’s a marketable product. It might not be a huge seller, but something you could manage yourself.”
When swimming against the tide of trying to make the Touring Cap say “Made in UK”, the words “something you could manage yourself” start echoing in my head. But my obsession and stubbornness are very real, and I will stick to my guns. I will make a cap handmade in the UK.
Pushing forward, this month I met Giuseppe Savoca for the first time. We talked; I showed him my prototypes and the objects I am collecting to explain the brand. Giuseppe’s reactions were very interesting. Instead of suggesting I stop my process and start a new page, he was ready to take all my research into his Creative and Product Development. All my efforts to gather as many pieces of the puzzle as possible are paying off.
I am not sure if I will ever be ready to sell the Touring Cap — not with all the energy, dedication and passion I am putting into it. My craziest gut feeling is that I will not want to sell my caps to just anyone, let alone everyone. More and more, I see the Touring Cap being made one at a time, for the right person.
