Hatters really were 'mad' | FILM / CULTURE / FASHION

WHO KNEW??

On the cusp of the release of Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland this weekend, check out this interesting story on today's APM Marketplace Report on the history of 'mad hatters'. Turns out hat makers worked with some pretty toxic stuff (i.e. mercury with bare hands!) back in 19th Century England. Such chemicals and fumes led to a stereotype of hat makers as being insane...or mad. Apparently, these dangerous materials were used in creating felt and treating beaver hats?? Good thing we've stepped up safety measures in the manufacturing of beaver hats today.

Listen to the story now at marketplace.publicradio.org.

-jmd