Manny blocks all his hats by hand. This is just one of the things that make them special, and it's what distinguishes him and other custom hatters from hat manufacturers who use hydraulic blockers. Manny is adamant on the subject. They probably waste more hats in a factory in one day that I do in six months. Working like a sculptor with a mound of clay, Manny shapes, molds, creases, and curls until he has given the hat its own personality and character.
More personality comes from the hat band.
Elephant hide, snakeskin, lizard, leather or feathers are just a few of the possibilities. It's not just the hats that are important to Manny Gammage, it's the friendships they've started. I have visited their homes, they've visited my home. I have friends from all walks of life. When Manny must make hats for people he hasn't met personally, working from their measurements, he works with the customer's picture as well.