Jump to content
Invision Community

P. & C. Habig Hutfabrik


habigman

Recommended Posts

The Habig family is originally from Freiburg and its family history goes back to the year 1550. Peter Habig moved to Vienna in 1853. He served his 5-year-apprenticeship as a hat maker and became a journeyman. From 1865 onwards, his brother Carl assisted him in the workshop, where they exclusively manufactured silk hats as well as the then much soughtafter "Chemisse Galett" hats.

 

It was at that time that they made their first humble attempts of manufacturing felt hats. Winning a gold medal at the international exhibit in Kassel in 1870 was the first step towards internationalisation for the newly established company "P. u. C. Habig" ("P. and C. Habig"). Having been honoured with the sought-after "Hors concours Juror" at the Vienna World Exposition was an important turning point in their career and eventually brought about the establishment of Habig as an international brand.

 

In 1874, P. and C. Habig opened an exclusive retail store located in downtown Vienna (Kärntner Strasse). In 1882, a new building was added to the former workshop located on Wiedner Hauptstrasse. The new and modern factory was equipped with the latest technology, allowing the staff to meet all export orders from Germany and overseas. A particularly exclusive branch opened in 1888 in downtown Berlin (Friedrichstrasse).

 

This complex was well positioned and equipped to meet all requirements ahead and included a state-of-the-art factory as well as living. "Kommerzialrat" Peter Habig was the founder of the Austrian Hat Makers' Society and also played a major role in the Austrian Hat Fashion Association as well as the Vienna Hat Makers' Co-operative. He served as president of international exhibit committees on several occasions.

 

Being socially inclined, he was the first to offer loyalty bonuses to workers of more than 20 years' seniority in his business. In addition to that he also rewarded especially hard working apprentices. He was appointed as a member of the arbitration committee of the Industrial Association of Lower Austria. He personally provided funds for a demonstration hat maker's workshop at the Vienna Technical Museum. Peter Habig, who had been awarded many decorations, was among the first to establish a renowned Viennese fashion scene. He was one of the pioneers of the Austrian clothing industry. He passed away on January 4, 1916, in Vienna.

 

The company was deeply affected by the aftermath of World War I - inflation and a generally bad economic situation - and could not keep its core staff of workers, despite all efforts.

 

At the beginning of World War II, the company production was reduced to a minimum due to the scarcity of raw materials and the lack of workers.

 

After the end of World War II P. and C. Habig were among the first to start manufacturing hats made from old stock, selling them in exchange for ration cards and clothing cards. The main business activity back then, which was an important factor in keeping the company afloat, was the mending of old hats.

 

After the retail shop in downtown Vienna (Kärtnerstrasse) was sold, Carl F. Habig, born in 1942, became the sole director of the company on March 20, 1969. He was the fourth family member in a row to hold this position. It was time to modernize the company and to streamline the production process.

 

Excerpt of: Die Staatswappenträger Österreichs; Jupiter Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Wien 1978

 

In 2006 Barbara Habig (daughter of Carl F. Habig) is launching a new line of luxury hats. A mixture of exclusive, extraordinary materials is significant for the exquisite hat collection.

 

http://www.putyourhaton.com/history.php

 

3824680692_926472661e.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Aug. Edelwieth Niederlassung des kk Hoflieferanten Hutfabrik Habig Wien

 

I was sent this picture from my friend Herbert Jennissen of Hut Neubarth Augsburg.

 

This location was bombed out during WWII but was originally owned by Habig.

 

"The photo I attached shows the shop at 'gegenüber Rathaus' in ca.1905. The two men in front are Gotthold Neubarth and his father. The shop then was still named August Edelwirth. On the left window at the bottom is written Aug. Edelwieth Niederlassung des kk Hoflieferanten Hutfabrik Habig Wien."

 

3845375175_8fc359ab42_o.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Images from February 2009 World of Interiors of the former P&C Habig hat shop in Vienna, designed by Holzmann and Adam in 1896.

 

3864192320_48b0ee9a75_o.jpg

 

3864192328_c7950d155d_o.jpg

 

3863407495_4a1dd9bc04_o.jpg

 

Some more pictures as it looks today.

 

3823880521_fc917614e6.jpg

 

3824680720_d84f8a04b0.jpg

 

800px-Habig_Vienna_2009.jpg

 

800px-Habig_Vienna_2009_7.JPG

 

This location is known as Habig-Hof.

 

3865092200_2234e63188_o.jpg

 

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habig-Hof

 

English translation.

 

http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?doit=done&tt=url&intl=1&fr=bf-res&trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fde.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FHabig-Hof&lp=de_en&btnTrUrl=Translate

 

The current tenants: Eventagentur Büro Hirzberger - We design events like Haute Couture.

 

http://www.hirzbergerevents.com/

 

The main retail shop at Kärtnerstrasse that was destroyed in WWII.

 

history.jpg

 

3864309859_9a511fc72f_o.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

P. & C. Habig Geras

 

I think this black velour is late 1960s maybe later. The liner is sewn in which is not the case the with the others I have of this same style. It also has the old label style but I can't read the numbers. The model appears to be named after the Lower Austrian town of Geras.

 

3887396945_6c4c7cda3e_b.jpg

 

3888191048_95fc74e709_b.jpg

 

3884339715_88c8c083f6_b.jpg

 

3885134186_1c1d1c65ff_b.jpg

 

3885134334_74947471b3_b.jpg

 

3884339817_2ea342b55c_b.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

I just got my 1961 P. & C. Habig Homburg (posted above) back from Optimo. It had some ribbon / bow damage (otherwise excellent condition) so I had that replaced plus a clean and block. The ribbon width is about the same as the original which isn't common for Homburgs (more Bowler like). I think they did a great job as usual.

 

After Optimo

 

4032329977_7cb5e1e47c_b.jpg

 

4032330087_82d5eec78c_b.jpg

 

They also added a sweatband bow which I didn't ask for (nice touch).

 

4033094402_60c485311d_b.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...
  • 2 months later...
  • 1 month later...

P. & C. Habig Melone (Bowler). The paper label has a production year of 1932. The hat is in new condition and came with the original holder and case.

 

4596274397_a4aa3db48f_b.jpg

 

4596272519_eb7922c6a1_b.jpg

 

4596888014_23c9d2f927_b.jpg

 

4596888092_8185eef7f4_b.jpg

 

4596273261_f8f6e66f4a_b.jpg

 

4596273171_85ae5cd729_b.jpg

 

Same shop as the hat so must be original. Notice the felt protector.

 

4596888466_ea483cc8f6_b.jpg

 

4596888776_565ee4e070_b.jpg

 

4596274025_4f435ed00c_b.jpg

 

4596274307_bfe7d9a175_b.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
  • 5 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...