The first silk top hats were made in Paris. The hat was introduced to London in the 1790's by John Hetherington. Silk top hats are no longer made in silk they are made of fur felt a technique that is older than the silk. The only machine that produced the silk nap, belonged to a family in Paris. It is said that the machine was dismantled over a family argument in the late 50's and the last hat was made in mid 60's.
