Located in Nay, one of the French beret capitals, the Blancq-Olibet plants were established in 1819 and have been making berets for six generations. Blancq-Olibet is the oldest beret manufacturer in the world.
The berets are marketed under the labels Bakarra, Vrai Basque and Pébéo. The company also supplies the French army and a number of couture houses such as Agnès B and Lacoste.
The Blancq-Olibet berets we stock at South Pacific Berets are the lined Bakarra's without headband and the manufacturers top-of-the-range models under the labels Bakarra (Basque for: "The One and Only"), Pébéo (abbreviation for "Prosper Blancq Olibet") and Vrai Basque (or "True Basque"). These are not only the manufacturers top-models, but also the highest quality we stock at South Pacific Berets.
Last, we stock the famous beret (or "Tarte") of the Chasseurs Alpins.
All French berets are measured flat in pouces (1 pouce = 27.9mm = 1.098"); with the headband added the beret will seem slightly smaller than that measurement.
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a The Béret Vrai Basque is the lightest Blancq-Olibet we stock at South Pacific Berets and also the smallest diameter of 9 pouces (256mm). The Vrai Basque label is one of the oldest beret labels continuously in use. The Vrai Basque is the perfect woolen beret for milder climates. Genuine leather headband, impermeable. $69.50 PRESENTLY ONLY AVAILABLE IN SIZE 60 | ra The Béret Bakarra DeLuxe Excellence is Blanq-Olibet's top quality beret in the Bakarra range. High density merino wool, impermeable and with a beautiful finishing. 9.5 pouces (267mm). $77.50 PRESENTLY ONLY AVAILABLE IN SIZE 59 & 60 |
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The Béret Bakarra DeLuxe is the most economical of our Blancq-Olibet berets and at the same time, one of the nicest berets available. The density, weight and finishing of this beret is the same as the Béret Vrai Basque, but comes with the Blancq-Olibet patent headband and in 10.5 pouces (291mm). This beret carries the new Bakarra label. Impermeable. $60.00 PRESENTLY ONLY AVAILABLE IN SIZE 59 & 60 |
The Béret PeBeO Excellence is the absolute top of the range of South Pacific Berets! A 11 pouces (302mm) beret in the manufacturer's best quality and highest density merino wool; impermeable and with a beautiful finish. This beret (or foulard) carries the traditional PeBeO Foulard De Luxe label. A beautiful foulard at $79.50 PRESENTLY ONLY AVAILABLE IN SIZE 59 & 60
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The Tarte, the beret of the Chasseurs Alpins:
| The beret of the Chasseurs Alpins is possibly the most important beret in the history of this humble headgear, being at the very basis of widespread use of the beret among the military and civilians. It was in 1888 that the French Government created 12 specialised mountain battalions, feeling threatened after Italy created 6 Alpini Regiments (mountain troops), positioned close to the French border. |
The trademark headgear of these Chasseurs Alpins was a large diameter black beret, giving excellent protection from the weather (from snow when standing guard, from sun on patrols by foot or ski's).
It were these very berets that inspired the British to use black berets for their newly created Royal Armoured Corps during WWI (the peak- and brimless beret being excellent headgear in the small confinement of a tank, while the black wool was pretty much oil- and stain resistant too).
Blanq-Olibet has been manufacturing these berets (tarts, in the jargon of the Chasseurs Alpins) for decades and are now available at South Pacific Berets at $75.00.
At present, only available in size 60 and 61.
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