Felt Hat Forms, Bodies, Hoods, Plateaux, and Manchons

A plateaux is a flat, circular felt disc that a milliner blocks into a hat crown or brim shape. A manchon (including slit manchons) is a cylindrical or cone-shaped felt tube that can be cut and blocked into various hat forms. Both are unfinished intermediate products sold to hat manufacturers; they classify under 6501.00 rather than as finished headwear in 6505 because they have not yet been blocked to shape or fitted with brims.

Bolivia is a significant source of high-quality alpaca and llama fiber, which is used in fine felt hat bodies — particularly for the premium Panama-style and fashion hat market. Bolivian suppliers produce felt blanks from these specialty animal fibers, which command a price premium over standard wool felt. Importers sourcing Bolivian felt bodies should document fiber content carefully, as the duty classification within 6501 can depend on whether the felt is fur felt (from fur-bearing animals) or wool/other animal hair felt.