Dasmarca Hats

When it comes to the base for his successful headwear brand, Bidyut Das is more than happy to adopt a literal interpretation of Paul Young’s classic hit Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home).

The celebrated hatmaker was among the first business customers to arrive at Big Yellow when his local branch opened its doors in 2022 and insists that he remains delighted with his sartorial company’s surrounds.

For Bidyut – who established Dasmarca Hats having honed his creative eye working for Kangol in New York – the north-west London store is an excellent fit for a hatful of reasons.

Chief among them, according to the alumnus of the Royal College of Art and Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design, is its location in England’s capital city.

“I was born in India but came to London with my parents when I was 12 and fell in love with the city, which I now call my home,” said Bidyut while explaining how the capital’s captivating heritage and cultural diversity inspire many of his creations. “As my business grew, I needed more room for storage and to use as an office, but affordable space is not that easy to find in London and it was important to me to be inside the city, not outside of it.

“What I have at Big Yellow is a workplace that is accessible and flexible – it’s in a great location and is very well connected with bus and train routes.”

While a key driver for Bidyut’s arrival at Big Yellow was being situated near to the addresses reflected in his designs, which range from stylish porkpies for everyday wear to elegant fedoras for special occasions, the hip hatter cites the store’s own vibrant community as a compelling cause for his enduring stay.  

“If you spend most of your time working on your own or as part of a small team, it can feel very isolating but that is never the case at Big Yellow,” he added. “You feel a part of something bigger – there are other small business owners to talk to, and you often see the same people to say hello and chat to.”

And of the familiar faces, Bidyut believes that there are none more welcoming than those of the staff working at the store.

“They are like family now,” the fashionista enthused. “I have a great relationship with the team and the way they look after you and your customers is truly fantastic.

“If I can’t be at the store for any reason, I can call them up and they will look after my deliveries for me, and a staffed reception is amazing when you have a customer coming to visit.”

Having his meticulously crafted hats, which span classic and timeless designs to bold and avant-garde accessories, meticulously cared for caps a happy partnership for Bidyut.

“Security is extremely important because without my stock, I do not have a business – my hats are sold through a number of online stores, such as Wolf & Badger, so it is vital I have the supply to meet the demand,” he concluded. “My designs and product specifications also need to be secure, and it is very reassuring to know that everything is safe at Big Yellow – there is an excellent level of security at the store.”

For more information, visit dasmarca-hats.myshopify.com/