TONAK

TONAK is a Czech hat manufacturer based in Nový Jičín, a town in the Moravian-Silesian region with a long tradition of hat-making. The company presents itself as a hat producer "since 1799" and continues the craft and industrial heritage of the Hückel family hat factories that operated in Neutitschein (today Nový Jičín). Its product range covers felt hats, including fedoras, cylinders and bowlers; straw hats; hunting and western-style hats; caps such as berets, bekovky and knitted or sewn caps; knitted accessories; and hat-care products. TONAK also supplies hat bodies and yarns, and offers custom and industrial manufacturing, including products for military and uniformed services. The brand operates a Czech e-shop and two physical stores: a flagship store in Prague at Žatecká 55/14 and a concept store in Nový Jičín at Masarykovo nám. 45. Its online catalogue includes seasonal collections such as a summer straw collection, panama hats, a Brooklyn collection, and limited editions such as a Black collection. Individual products include the Fedora Clay, Fedora Sunset, Fedora Amber, Fedora Tide, Fedora Chesnut and Fedora Dusk, with prices shown in Czech koruna. TONAK also maintains a B2B side covering custom production, hat manufacturing, fashion-designer and fashion-brand collaboration, industrial fez production, products for military and uniformed components, and yarns. The company's heritage is closely linked to J. Hückel's Söhne, a hat factory in Neutitschein in Moravia. That enterprise grew from artisanal hat-making into factory production of hair-felt hats in the 19th century, became a supplier to the imperial court, and won awards at international exhibitions. TONAK positions itself as a continuation of this Central European hat-making tradition while serving contemporary fashion and lifestyle customers. The official website emphasizes craftsmanship, certificates and awards, responsibility, and a broad range of hats and headwear for men and women.

TONAK's heritage is tied to the hat-making industry of Nový Jičín (historically Neutitschein) in Moravia. The official website presents the brand as a hat manufacturer since 1799. The broader Central European tradition is documented through J. Hückel's Söhne, a hat factory in Neutitschein. According to the German Wikipedia account, the Würzburg hat maker Gottfried Hückel settled in Fulnek in northern Moravia in 1647. In 1805 his great-great-great-grandson Johann Hückel (1779–1835) founded his own hat-making business in nearby Neutitschein, and some years later his brother August Hückel (1786–1848) founded another. At that time hat-making was still entirely manual, and each business served mainly its immediate surroundings. Johann Albert Hückel (1814–1880), son of August Hückel, entered the trade, took over his uncle Johann's business in 1837, and after his father August died in 1848 united both businesses under his name. Industrialization then began to transform the trade. In 1865 Johann Albert Hückel began moving from artisanal production to factory production. Together with his sons he established a factory for hair-felt hats using steam-powered machines, reportedly the first in Austria to attempt this. He led the business until 1868, when he handed management to his sons August (1838–1917), Johann (1843–1917) and Carl (1850–1919), remaining as an adviser until his death in 1880. His sons had worked for years in hat factories in Germany and France, learned practical methods there, introduced the newest machines into the Austrian factory, and expanded sales through their many connections. The Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871 halted hat production in Germany and France, giving firms such as J. Hückel's Söhne an opportunity to gain ground abroad. Over time the company expanded not only in Europe but also overseas. As sales grew, production facilities were enlarged. A particularly important step was the integration of hair preparation, known as "Haarschneiderei," into hat production. Until the 1870s this was not an independent industry in the Danube monarchy, unlike in Belgium, Germany and France, so Austrian hat makers had to import the needed hair materials. J. Hückel's Söhne was the first to combine this branch with hat manufacturing and produce all necessary hair materials itself. The firm initially tried to source raw materials domestically and assigned supplies of silk, ribbons and leather to Austrian firms where possible. However, key raw materials such as hare, rabbit and beaver fur could only partly be obtained domestically; the rest came from France, England, South America and Australia. Before 1900 the company used roughly 1.5 million such skins annually. Management also took safety measures for workers, sought a healthy atmosphere, and guarded against fire risk. As a founding member of the support association for the Trade Hygiene Museum founded by Franz Migerka in Vienna, the company promoted nationwide health-protection efforts from 1893. Johann Hückel Sr. had already founded a sickness fund for his workers in 1868, long before it became legally required, with an annual contribution of 6,000 florins. An old-age and support fund was also established with 30,000 crowns as capital for the elderly and disabled. There were 100 specially built workers' houses with water, gardens and fields for employees. Relations between workers and employers were described as harmonious and satisfactory; many employees had worked for the company for 20 to 30 years or longer by around 1900. In 1898 the factory employed about 1,200 workers, with another 200 to 300, mostly workers' wives, doing home work. The company received numerous honors. It won top prizes at the 1873 Vienna World's Fair, the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, the 1878 Paris World's Fair and the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It won the Grand Prix at the 1900 Paris World's Fair, as well as awards in St. Petersburg in 1902 and Vienna in 1910. Johann Hückel Sr. was honored by Emperor Franz Joseph I with the golden cross of merit with the crown in 1877. In 1893 the firm was granted the title of k.u.k. court hat manufacturer. TONAK continues this hat-making tradition in Nový Jičín. Its modern official website presents a full range of felt, straw and fur-felt hats, caps, accessories and hat bodies, alongside retail stores in Prague and Nový Jičín and B2B services including custom production, fashion collaboration, industrial fez production, military and uniform products, and yarns.

• 1910

  The company received an award in Vienna.

• 1902

  The company received an award in St. Petersburg.

• 1900

  The company won the Grand Prix at the Paris World's Fair.

• 1898

  The factory employed about 1,200 workers, with 200–300 more doing home work.

• 1893

  The firm was named k.u.k. court hat manufacturer and won a top prize at the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition.

• 1878

  The company won a top prize at the Paris World's Fair.

• 1877

  Johann Hückel Sr. received the golden cross of merit with the crown from Emperor Franz Joseph I.

• 1876

  The company won a top prize at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia.

• 1873

  The company won a top prize at the Vienna World's Fair.

• 1868

  Johann Hückel Sr. founded a sickness fund for workers; management passed to his sons.

• 1865

  Johann Albert Hückel began the transition from artisanal to factory production of hair-felt hats.

• 1848

  After August Hückel's death, Johann Albert Hückel united both family hat businesses.

• 1837

  Johann Albert Hückel took over his uncle Johann's hat business.

• 1805

  Johann Hückel founded a hat-making business in Neutitschein (today Nový Jičín).

• 1799

  TONAK presents its hat-making heritage as dating to 1799.

Traditional Czech hat maker combining heritage craftsmanship with contemporary fashion collections, retail and B2B hat production.

• Fedora Clay

  A new felt hat model priced at 4,900 CZK, available in cream, pink, light brown, turquoise, and dark pink.

• Fedora Sunset

  A fedora model priced at 5,250 CZK.

• Fedora Amber

  A fedora model priced at 5,250 CZK.

• Fedora Tide

  A fedora model priced at 5,250 CZK in turquoise-beige.

• Fedora Chesnut

  A fedora model priced at 5,250 CZK.

• Fedora Dusk

  A fedora model priced at 5,250 CZK in beige-brown.

• Black collection

  An exclusive limited edition collection.

• Mirage

  A new summer straw collection.

• Brooklyn collection

  A hat collection available in the online shop.

• Panama hats

  A category of straw hats offered by TONAK.

1. 1TONAK | Výrobce klobouků od roku 1799 | Nový Jičín – Tonak CZtonak.cz
2. 2CLAY – Tonak CZtonak.cz
3. 3Fedora Tide – Tonak CZtonak.cz
4. 4Fedora Dusk – Tonak CZtonak.cz
5. 5TONAK – Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6J. Hückel’s Söhne – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org