Tradition - The House of Christy was founded by Miller Christy in a small courtyard shop off Gracechurch Street in the city of London; the year was 1773. After serving a ten year apprenticeship Miller had become fully qualified in the "Art and Mastery of Felt Making". He was a man of high ideals and character, a Quaker, so it is not surprising that the little hat business soon acquired something of a reputation and trade progressed and grew steadily. As early records testify even in the infancy of the business Christys' hats were in great demand overseas and Miller Christy had customers as far afield as Virginia.
History - The Christy family was introduced to hat making through marriage with the Miller family, some members of which were engaged in hat making in the eighteenth century. In 1773 Miller Christy, found of the House of Christy, was apprenticed to his brother-in-law William Miller to learn the art of hat making. After a ten year apprenticeship he founded The House of Christy, married and started a family. The two eldest sons, John and William were taken into partership. The Christy family has fostered the tradition and craft of hat making for over 200 years.
Quality - Christys' is the only company in the world still making high quality top hats and bowlers in the traditional way. Using hatting skills established over 200 years ago, the dedication of their highly skilled craftsman and women is helping to keep a valuable industry very much alive. Today, the making of quality felt hats is still a very labour intensive process. With some 45 operations involved, many done by hand, the skills of the hat makers have to be developed over many years of specializing in one operation.
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