Dark History of Hat Making

Dark History of Hat Making

How did hats become one of history's deadliest trades?

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4.4 (24)

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54 mins

Explore the toxic and dangerous world of historical hat making, where workers were exposed to mercury that slowly destroyed their minds and bodies. Discover how an everyday fashion industry gave rise to the phrase "mad as a hatter" and countless hidden tragedies.

Ep 1:

Crowns, Toxins, and Timeless Tradition

From a 350-year-old London hatter surviving bombs and pandemics to the milliner behind Diana's iconic hats, we uncover the royal glamour and hidden secrets behind headwear history.

Ep 2:

Felt, Fumes, and the Mad Hatter Myth

Behind every beautifully blocked felt hat lies a toxic secret: we trace mercury's deadly grip on hatters and reveal the true, surprising origins of "mad as a hatter.

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Discussions (5)

Jonah

Level 7 · 2 mo ago

Lock & Co let a Nazi bomb sit in their basement laa

Ace

Level 2 · 2 mo ago

bro said 'darkest hour' and made it about hats. respect the audacity

Autumn

Level 4 · 2 mo ago

Wait so Smithsonian just quietly deleted the whole Mongol princess hat article after it went viral?? No correction, no apology, just a little note saying oops unsupported claims. A major publication got played by a Tumblr post lmao

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