Amelie Richards

When I cast my mind back to 1965, it was a real gala year for me. I had not long returned to Merseyside from Rome, where I had been working as a fashion designer. A big part of that decision was the influence of John and Cynthia Lennon, who convinced me that opening a boutique store in Liverpool was a good idea. As was so often the case with John, he was quite right. I had a great time creating my designs in the shop, and business was great. Perhaps best of all though, I created my most iconic design of all during that era. I'm referring to the leather Bakerboy hat that Joh sported throughout the Help! era, which became unofficially known as the “John Lennon leather cap.” I actually lost count of the number of caps I made for John, as the originals were constantly snatched from his head and stolen by fans. That's hardly surprising, really. If you're lucky enough to remember the 60s, you'll recall that John and his bandmates were mobbed at every turn, in every city they visited. If you're ever browsing eBay and find a listing claiming to be the original John Lennon Beatles cap, and charging the kind of pretty penny that only a bona fide Beatlemaniac could justify, take that claim with a pinch of salt. There were literally hundreds of them floating around at one stage – and that's not even taking the many, many imitations from other designers into account! Nobody can be certain what happened to the very first cap. All is not lost, though. If you want a John Lennon leather cap to call their own – and why wouldn't you? – I have made a handful of new replicas in the last few years. I will not be creating any more – the hat takes a lot of work! – and stocks are now limited, so act fast if you're interested. There are still a handful of caps available though, ranging in size from S to XL. The cap is designed to fit at the back of the head, exactly the way that John used to wear his. Obviously, though, this is nothing stopping you from wearing the cap any way you want! One of the best things about the John Lennon Beatles cap is that it suits anybody, regardless of sex, age, skin colour or fashion style. That's the kind of unity and universality that John always felt strongly about. The cap is made from 100% Nappa, and it's lined with silk to ensure that it feels luxurious. Two buttons and a leather braid atop the cap complete the look, ensuring that you'll look as fab as you feel. I use entirely domestic materials, too, and make the caps in my Liverpool studio. If you pick up an official John Lennon Beatles cap from me, you'll own a genuine slice of British history. Plus, of course, you'll be the smartest, most fashionable person in any room that you enter!