Cap, Singapore Kiwi (S.E.A)
General Information
Name: Cap, Singapore Kiwi (S.E.A). 1
Country of Origin: New Zealand.
Date of Production: c 1980’s.
Manufacturer: Yet to be identified.
Colour: Black.
Size: One size fits all (OSFA).
Weight: 62g.
Windproof: No.
Waterproof: No.
History
The cap is a commonly encountered style of hat from the 1980s. The base design of the cap itself was likely commercially manufactured in Taiwan before having the “NZ Forces S.E.A (South East Asia) Singapore” motif screen printed onto the front in white lettering with a white kiwi positioned between the text.
This style of cap was readily available for purchase through stores at Dieppe Barracks by New Zealand soldiers and their families as a souvenir of their time stationed in Singapore prior to the withdrawal of New Zealand forces from the country in 1989.
Description
The peak is fabricated with a plastic stiffener covered with black polyester cloth and sewn to the front of the cap. The peak measures approximately 7.5 cm long and 19.5 cm wide and is held in place with multiple rows of crescent shaped stitching that help strengthen the peak and stop the internal stiffener from moving or deforming during wear.
The front of the crown is fabricated with black polyester nylon cloth while the rear section is fabricated with four wedge shaped sections of black nylon mesh sewn together to form the back of the crown. The top of the crown has a small metal vent cap.
The rear of the cap has been cut with a crescent shaped relief section to prevent the mesh from bunching when the cap is adjusted. Adjustment is achieved with two interlocking black plastic straps that snap together.
The internal side of the front crown section is lined with polyester foam to help absorb sweat and assist the cap in maintaining its shape. All internal seams have been covered with black binding tape and the internal sweatband is fabricated from a polyester felt type material with a nylon backing for comfort during wear.
Examples
Example One
Object Number: 8715-554-46112.
1 Note 1: This is just a generic name, as we have yet to find its actual name.
