Why You Need To Care Your Panama Hat

The Panama hat is fame for its gracefulness and fine quality but it is also known for its high priced tags, specially the fine weave Montecristi Hats. Since it is not those kind of straw hats that you can buy it again and again, of course unless you have that much of money, it needs to be taken care of. This is an authentic hat, which you must take good care to lengthen its longevity.

The Panama hats are made from the Toquilla straw found only in Ecuador. This straw contains some amount of humidity and due to its thickness becomes very flexible. It has the ability to absorb additional humidity and in dry places expels it. If the hat remains in dry places it will gradually weaken the straw and if not taken care it will eventually break or crack the Straw Hat. Handling the Panama hat carefully is also important. Some people grip the crown with much pressure and that will make the straw weaker. If you don’t take care of your Ecuador Panama Hat then it can last only for a couple of years of continuous use.

If you want your authentic Panama Straw Hat to last for long, then taking care of it and handling it properly will be the solution. There are certain tips, which can help you to prolong the duration of your panama hat. Following this tip, you can have your panama hat to last for longer.

The Ecuador Panama Hats are a very exquisite, sophisticated and finely woven Straw Hat that takes a long process to complete it. It can enhance any wearer and add a graceful touch in their face or overall outlook. It will be a bad idea if you do not pay much heed. A wonderful handicraft needs to be treated with much care. The Panama Straw Hat brings the wearer alive. Do not kill its gracefulness by being careless. The Panama hats if taken good care can last generations.

Through Several Hands

The Panama Straw Hats, as we know are hand woven by the Ecuadorian weavers. That takes months to come to the halt but before the Panama Hats are completely finish from making it has to go through several hands of different artisans. All these artisans contribute a lot in creating the world’s finest Straw Hats.

When the weaving is done, the Panama Straw Hat is passed on to hands of the artisans one by one. There are five hands, which the Panama Straw Hats have to go through. The first is the rematador or rematadora. They do opposite what the weavers do-back weave the Straw Hats. They use some specialized weaving, quite different from the weaving done overall straw hat. The back weave done by the rematador or rematadora are on the brim’s outer edge. For a more finely woven hat, the back weave is also done more finely. Well you have to match the weaves.

After the rematador or rematadora has done their part, the Panama Hat ten goes to the hands of azocador. The azocador’s job is to tighten the back weaves carefully. The back weaves needs to be tightened each time round it goes.

There are always some loose ends of the straws hanging out from the weaving. This is the work to sort out for the cortadors. The cortadors will trim out the long straws and the brims of the Panama Hats. How they do, they will first cut off the straws on the edge to an inch long. Then, the Panama Straw Hat is turned inside out and cut the loose straws off.

When the loose straws are cut off, it is time for pounding the Panama Hats. This is done to soften the Straw Hat. The apaleador handles this job. They use big and hard mallets to pound the Panama Straw Hats. With the pounding, the straw of the Panama Hats becomes softer and flexible. The job is more hard than the pounding as they have to make sure that the Straw Hats are not pound too hard as that would damage the straw or too light as that would make the Straw Hat less softer. While the apaleador pound the Straw Hat, he will keep on dusting sulfur powders.

Meanwhile the Panama Straw Hats will again go on through the hands of the cortador from time to time. The Panama Straw Hats also have to go through the hands of the planchador. The job of the planchador is to iron the hat thoroughly. It is not an easy job to iron the Straw Hats. You need to iron it carefully with great effort to bring out the smoothness. The ironing just as weaving also depends on the artistry to get the best shape.

The Art of Ironing the Panama Hat

When the Panama Hats are finished from weaving, they are taken for ironing. Ironing the Panama Hat is one of the procedures that are required to complete the whole process of making the Straw Hats.

To iron the hat, you need tools like several forms made out of woods, leather belts and sulfur powder. These wood forms are shaped into several types, which is used for putting the panama hats on to iron. The planchador is the person who takes up the job to iron the Panama Hats.

What they do is fit the Panama Hat into the form and put on the leather belt on top of the hat’s crown. The belt is made very tight and then it is pushed through on top of the hat till it reaches far bottom of the wood form. When it is done properly, the Panama Straw Hat is wiped with the sulfur powder. The ironing begins at that moment. Ironing the Panama Straw Hats is not an easy job as it looks like. The planchador puts a piece of cloth between the hat and the iron. This is the way a Panama Hat get its ironing.

Ironing the Panama Straw Hat takes a lot of muscle work. It is not ironed the way a cloth is done. While ironing, the planchador will push hard as he goes. You need to put some strong effort while ironing. The ironing of the Straw Hat is done all over-from the hat crown to that of the side and that of the brim. Meanwhile, the planchador often rub the hat with sulfur powder as he does the ironing. It takes a great hand and mastery to iron the Panama Straw Hats. A master planchador always brings out the best ironed Panama Straw Hat. You can always tell the finishing touch of an artist.

The Art and Crafts of Ecuador

In Ecuador, you will be amaze to find many handicrafts. The country has highly skilled artisans who can make anything from hats, to woodcrafts to paintings. Every place you go in Ecuador, there is always a thing of artistry to appeal you. Some of the handicrafts have made Ecuador famous in the eye of the world. These handicrafts are not only beautiful but also quite practical.

The Panama hat

One of the most exquisite and world-renowned handicraft from Ecuador is the Panama hat. Do not get fooled by the name. This straw hat was named after the place where it was sold, the name struck but the fact has been out that the panama hats are from Ecuador. The Ecuador Panama Hats are the most excellent handicraft straw hat. The texture, the smoothness and the weaving is so fine that it is also the most expensive of all hats. The Montecristi Hats is the finest of all and you will never find a finer and superior hat anywhere. Apart from the fine weaving, it is said the Panama hat can hold water if your turn upside down and at the same time be airy. The straw hats also serve as a Roll Up Hats where you can roll it for storage without breaking the original shape. Perhaps because this straw hat is both a beauty and very practical, it makes it the most expensive straw hat in the world. The finest Panama Hat takes months to weave and it goes through a long process to produce this satin like Straw Hat.

Woodcarvings

In Ecuador, you will find many wood crafted artifacts. In the churches woodcarving are in done in the interiors. San Antonio is the main center where you will find many woodcarvings figures for sale. Most people in San Antonio are skilled wood carving masters.

Bread figures of Calderon

The Ecuadoreans are very skillful that they even changed the shape of the bread. Often in the street of Calderon, you will find colorful figured bread. Do not get confused this bread with dolls as there are made in the shape of men, women and other figures.
Apart from these handicrafts, there are lots to discover in Ecuador. There are truly skilled and produce the best crafts in the world.

Spinning Straws into Gold

Do you remember the story of Rumpelstiltskin, where straws were spun into gold? This is exactly how the panama hats are weaved. It is weaved from one of the finest straws in the world into the most exquisite straw hats. Why we are comparing the panama hats with gold is that they are weaved into a flawless Straw Hat that feels like satin when you touch it. The Panama Hats are more than just a hat, it is a treasure that most people would love to acquire.

Acclaimed as the prince of straw hats, the Panama Straw Hats dominates over the hat world and is a favorite among the hat lovers. The Panama Straw Hats are not made in Panama but in the Ecuadorian coast since the year of 1600’s. The straw that the Panama hat is made of comes from the leaves of the Toquillo palm. Just like you heat up gold time over time to get its purest form, a Panama Hat takes up months to weave by hands and through different processes to make it to the finest Straw Hats. If you are lucky to have one, you will come to know the true value of the hat when you feel it with your hand. It is extra light, superbly weaved, thin as a cloth yet strong.

The Panama Hats comes from two main town of Ecuador-Cuenca and Montecristi. The Montecristi Hats are more finer in quality than the Cuenca hats. In Cuenca, the hats are produce in mass and the quality level is lesser. While in Montecristi, you will find a fewer hat but the quality is the most superior. Often a Montecristi Hat can cost you more than the Cuenca hats. In fact, the Montecristi Hat’s price can be quite exorbitant. When it takes much sweat, effort and time to weave, the price must credit the hard work. No one bothers about the price, as their only concern to have the finest Straw Hat on their head.

Panama Montecristi Hats-Legendary and Unique

When you hear the news that the price of the Panama Montecristi hats are sky high then, you would probably think people are exaggerating so much on the hat. But when you see and feel the extra fineness of the quality of the weave and of the Panama Montecristi Hats, you would think otherwise. Both the price and the quality of the Montecristi Hat are pretty and sky rocking.

The Montecristi Hat is a legend in itself. These Panama Montecristi Hats are woven painstakingly by hand and takes months to finish it. The making process is long and often tiring- From selecting the toquilla straws to the Panama Straw Hat blocking. Each step of making this legendary Straw Hat takes high amount of time and great efforts. When such efforts are taken to make a Panama hat then, obviously it is the most expensive Straw Hat.

In Montecristi where the Panama Montecristi Hats are made, the quality is very much fine then the Panama Straw Hats made from Cuenca. When the quality is more the quantity becomes less. The weave is so fine that the Straw Hats more almost look like a cloth and the feel of a satin. It is a fine example for great craftsmanship and artistry. Each Montecristi Hat differs from one to another since it is hand woven.

The comparison of the Montecristi Hats is baseless even with the Cuenca hats. All Montecristi hats are roll able and that adds up the extra value and uniqueness of the Montecristi hat. From the weaving to the colors to the duration, a Panama Montecristi Hat tops the rest in all aspect.

When it comes to wear a hat that defines class and elegance, the Panama Montecristi Hats comes as a top favorite among the elites till now. Often you see the Montecristi Hats on the head of famous people and in fashion. It is irreplaceable.

Panama Hats-A Timeless Fashion Icon

Who wouldn’t want to be fashionable? From movie stars to athletes to presidents to singers, all wants to look the best if not a trendsetter. The fashion trend changes but one fashion icon that stayed on till now for ages is the Panama Straw Hats. Sure, you would see many famous people donning the unique Straw Hat on their head. Those powerful men love to don them and the Panama Hats almost become synonymous with power. That is another story but the fact is that the Panama Hat is a timeless style icon that both men and women are finding it hard to leave after so many years.

The Panama Straw Hats found their way to the heads of the workers and then to the head of the royalties. However, it soon found its way towards the world of fashion when it was showcase in the Paris universal show. This was in 1855 when a Frenchmen introduce the Panama Straw Hat to the French people. Knowing the taste of the Frenchmen, they were highly impressed with the fine quality of the Straw Hat. It was unthinkable of them to wear any other style than the fine Panama Straw Hat.That led to a craze of the Panama Hats. This captivating Panama Straw Hat became the fashion accessory of the elite. Starting from that moment till now the Panama Straw Hats holds the number one spot of being the most graceful accessory of portraying a fashionable person.

So where do you find the Panama Hats now. Of course, they are still on the heads of the most fashionable and elite people but the Panama Straw Hats also make a frequent appearance in movies and on the ramp apart from appearing in
magazines and newspapers. Whatever outfit the person is wearing the Panama hat always bring out a plus point.

Panama Hats-A Dying Art or a Reviving Art

If you see the number of weavers now in the Montecristi where the finest Panama Hats are made, it is very less. Today the hand weaving art of making the Panama Straw Hats seems to be dying with less number of weavers. As compared to the golden hats eras with the situation now, the Panama Hat seem to be heading the road of extinction. If that happen, it would be such a shame to loss a fine straw hat that cannot be replaced by other Straw Hats.

The weavers in Montecristi are known for their artistry of weaving a superb quality of Panama Straw Hat. But the hat are diminishing as years goes by. The very reason would be the weavers are paid less. They seem to be suffering from the old feudal system of mercantile where the weavers are still at the bottom of getting the credit. The Panama hat weavers are the silent lamb where their hard works are paid less but the dealers or the buyers enjoying the icing on the cake. There is no pricing system or grading system. The weavers had to take what the buyers give them. That led to more of quantity of the Panama Hats and less of the quality. The market practice was not fair to them and they had to do what seem right.

However, now the Panama Straw Hats seem to grow slowly its mark. No one could ever think of a first rate quality hat to go extinct. Now some people are trying hard to revive the old tradition of hand weaving the Panama Hats and give back a better life to the weavers. With a strong history of the legendary Panama Straw Hat, it’s a big step that all should take something to save it from being oblivion. The best you can help, buy them and don’t argue about the price. The Panama Straw Hats are unique. The Panama hat is a true presenter of sophistication and gracefulness. The Panama Straw Hats are expensive as they take a hard long process to weave. You will know better if you take a look how they are made.

Panama Hat Was Ecuador’s Main Export Item

Ecuador has been known for its high quality headgear since years. In mid 1900’s the Panama hat was Ecuador’s main export item and until today it has been captivating many people around the world. This straw hat was weaved in Ecuador and sold within as well. Later the Straw Hats were shipped to Panama. As Panama was a major trade center, the name of the Straw hats from Ecuador was named Panama hats. Ironically, later when people came to know the fact of the Panama Straw Hat’s origin, the name didn’t change.This was the first time that the Panama Straw Hat was exported. In 1849, Ecuador exported the Panama Hats in more than 220,000 pieces. It was introduced to the rest of the world when a Frenchmen took the Ecuador Panama Hats in Paris and presented them in the World’s fair in 1855. Knowing the highly fashionable taste of the Frenchmen, soon the Panama hat was adorned for its beauty and it was unthinkable to replace them.

The popularity of the Panama Straw Hat was even higher in the 20th century when the then president of US, Theodore Roosevelt sported a Montecristi Hat. That picture got published in the world press. More demands were in and soon Ecuador began to export more of the Straw Hats to the world.In Turkey, the use of the traditional fez was banned in 1925 and the use of Ecuador Panama Hats was mandated. It was by 1944 that the Panama Straw Hat became the major export item of Ecuador for a short period. Till now, the demands of the Ecuador Panama Hats are growing and the straw hat still maintains its charm.

The main center of the Ecuador Panama Hat is in Cuenca and Montecristi. In Cuenca, the Panama hats are weaved faster and in mass to meet the demands but with inferior quality than the Montecristi Hats. Now, Panama is no longer the main country of export, today Ecuador Panama Hats are exported worldwide to countries such as United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan, etc, etc.

Care Your Panama Hat To Prolong Its Life

When you have a great hat like Panama Hat then, obviously you should handle it very carefully. Your Panama Straw Hat can last for ages and it remains durable if you handle it properly. Each Panama Straw Hat is made with special care to bring out the soft rich texture of the straw. When the Straw Hats has been made given much attention while making it then, you ought to give full credit to the artisans who made it by taking great care of the hat.

The Panama hats are made from the straws of the toquilla palm. These straws are of the finest quality. There are certain Do’s and Don’ts for taking care of the Panama Straw Hats. To increase the lifespan of your Panama Hat, one thing you have to take great precaution is not to let the hat come in contact with water. The Straw Hat will act like a sponge and absorb the water. In case this happens then, just leave the Panama Straw Hat in a shade and let it dry. Do not keep it directly in the sun.

Exposing the hat to strong sunlight or in a warm place without any ventilation leave the Straw Hats to dry up very fast and make it weaker. Eventually, the straws will become breakable. To keep the Panama Straw Hats in good condition, it needs a little humidity.

You can iron the Panama Hat, if you want. Just make sure you keep a piece of cloth between the iron and the hat. Ironing the straw hat will help you keep the original shape of the hat.

While handling the hat, the crown and the brim should be griped very slowly. Do not put much pressure on it as it might become vulnerable with times. This is to avoid leaving any crease on the hat also. If you have the Panama Roll Up Hat, avoid rolling it too much. Often rolling can damage or break the hat.

For cleaning the Panama hat, just use a soft brush to dust off the hat. Otherwise, you can use a soft cloth. If there is a spot on the hat, then use plain water to wipe it out. If it does not go off then you can use a moist facial or even a baby wipe and wipe with the lather. The leather bands on the hat keeps body sweat and oil from sticking to the hat. So it needs to be change from time to time.

These do’s and don’ts will keep your panama hat longer and stronger for a long period of time.

Panama Hat Blocking

An interesting part of making the Panama hats is the blocking. So, what really is the blocking. This is a process where a Panama hat is given its final shape. This method of hat blocking was done by hand but it is vanishing into extinction. But most of the Montecristi Hats are hand blocked unlike the Cuenca hats that are done through machinery.

Hat blocking brings out the real beauty of the Panama Straw Hats. And through blocking, you will get the different style of the Panama hats. Hat blocking is an art. When carefully done, it can give you the best Panama Hats, if not then it will spoil all the hard works done on weaving. The real recognition of the Panama hat blocking will be understood when you compare a blocked hat with an unblocked one.

If you want to put your hands on the real unique Panama Straw Hat, then the one that has been blocked by hand will be it. Hand blocking truly is a fine art. It is endangered but some few artisans are trying to revive the hand blocking method today. What is so important about hand blocking the Panama Hat is that it brings out the true essence of the whole process of the Panama Straw Hat weaving. The Panama Straw Hats takes a long process to weave by hand and finishing it with machine blocking does not pay full credit to the whole thing.

The process of hand blocking can take a lot of work and requires tools and techniques. The natural hand blocking is what makes the Montecristi Hats famous for its shape. It does have a lasting unique shape. It may be an old fashion way but when you wear the hand blocked Montecristi Hat, you will get a feel that can’t be expressed with words. Once the Panama Hats are hand block, it can be re-blocked again.

So hand blocking a Panama Straw Hat in a way gives full respect to the long process of hand weaving method. Next time you buy it make sure it is hand blocked.

Grade Your Panama Hats to Get the Best

Often people when they go to buy the Panama hats would get into great confusion when it comes to grade the hat. Well, to a layman, all the Panama Straw Hats seems equal. But when the price seems different from each hats the confusion adds more. Sometimes the locals cheat them when they sell the Panama Hats saying it to be ultra fino or super fino. Do not get entangled with the word ‘fino’. Best is you see if the Panama Straw Hats are indeed ultra fino yourself.

Of course the first thing you have to see when you grade a Panama Hat is the fineness of the weave. Anyone would know how the weavings are done. Even a child can make that out. When you go for Panama Straw Hat shopping, always take a closer look at the hat weaves. The finest Straw Hats will be the one that are weaved very thinly. When the weaves are finely done, the grading also increases and of course, the amount of work must also have doubled. The Montecristi Hats have always surpasses the Cuenca Panama hats. The reason- it takes only three days to weave a Cuenca hat while the Montecristi Hat takes months of careful work.

Do not take the grading system of the locals too seriously. There is actually no standardized system of grading. One local grading might differ from another even when the weaves are same. Most of them would grade their Panama Straw Hats as Fino, Fino-Fino, Super Fino, Ultra fino or Museum quality.

Coming back to grade the Panama Hats, all you need to do is see the fine quality of the weave. Second the color. While you view for the quality of the hat weave just see if the pattern of the weaves are homogenous and straight all through the hat surface. Though it cannot be 100% perfect but still the closest will do. The colors of the Panama Straw Hats can also differ from one to another. See if the colors are even throughout the hat surface. Sometimes you will find uneven colors. It is perfect to have slightly different shades but not the one that are too noticeable.

The traditional way of finding the finest quality Panama Straw Hat is by counting the number of rings and vueltas. You will find these rings on the inside of the crown when you view it holding it up to a light. The ring or vueltas are formed when the weavers add new strands of straws while weaving. The point is when you find large amount of rings, the weaves are tighter and finer.

A final tip that would help you to see the fineness of the weave is by counting weaves in number in a square inch of the Panama hat first horizontally and then vertically. By measuring the number of horizontal rows and multiplying it by the number of vertical rows. Usually the vertical count will be larger than the horizontal. The result will be the Montecristi Cuenta (Count). When the Montecristi Cuenta is more than 900 then, it is the most finest, a treasure so to say. If it is less than 200 then, it is not that worthy if you are looking for an original Montecristi Panama hat. Though this is a tedious job to count the weaves but it is worthy at the end.

Easy To Roll, Easy To Carry

Hats made out of clothes can be rolled up easily but with straws, it’s a bit difficult. With the Panama Hats it is not so. With a fine texture like silk, the Panama Straw Hats can be rolled up and store it in a wooden box. You often get the balsa wooden box with the roll-able hat. The Panama Hats are famous for its rich materials and durability but it is also known for its portability. You can get the Roll Up Hats, making travelling with your Panama hat easier.

The panama hats are basically straw hats. The toquilla straw, which makes the Panama hat, are prepared, weaved and made into such a way that the straws are transformed into silk like material. The fineness of the straw hat offers this flexibility of being rolled up like a cloth. All true Montecristi Hats are roll up Hats. You don’t have to worry about losing the shape, just reshape with your hands and you will have its original form fast and easy. The only thing it will give you is a slight crease on the middle of the hat. But that becomes a different style. Remember the panama Roll Up Hats will come without the leather head band sewn in. If the leatherhead band is sewn in then, it might restrict the effectiveness of the Roll Up Hat.

Tips for rolling up the panama hats:

The panama hats are Roll Up Hats but it does not mean that you can roll it up in any way you want. There is a certain technique of this Roll Up Hat. If you fold or roll the Panama hat in any way you like then, this treatment will eventually crack the straws or damage the weaves. Following the proper rolling technique will help you maintain the hat and sustain its durability. You have to carefully fold the hat in half and let one side curve into the other. It should be forming like the shape of a bowl. Then gently roll with your finger place inside the crown to avoid rolling it too tight.

One thing you have to remember is that roll your panama hat only when you are traveling and do not store it for a long period of time, otherwise it might take a long time to come to the original shape. Straws do crack when it is dry. The Panama Straw Hats are made from the finest quality straw but it is still a straw at the end. Do not roll the Panama Straw Hat when in dry climates. First, you should humidify it by either steaming it or misting it with warm water.

Panama Hats-A Graceful Accessory for Woman

Who says the hat makes the man? Even it can make the woman. Hat is of course a must have for men but women are not left behind. The Women's Panama Hats are a graceful addition to the dressing style of the sophisticated women. Fitted for all occasion, the Panama Straw Hats will add a new look to what women usually portray. There are many Panama Straw Hat styles for women. Women would love to wear them while going in the beach, for gardening or go out anywhere. These Panama Women's Straw Hats will really light up or enhance your style of dressing up.

So, which Panama Women's Straw Hat would be the best for your head and your taste? Well, there are many you can choose but if you need a tour of the Women's Panama Hats style then there are lots you can pass. The panama hats for women are weaved for different occasions. But most women finds it wearable with any wardrobe, less or more dressy. For women, the crown of the panama hats is usually round in shape.

The Breton is a classic Montecristi Hat style for the women. It has a simple round crown and the brim is gently scooped. Among the ladies, it’s the most popular. It is always appropriate for any occasion and gives an elegant look. The Colonial or Optimo is another style liked by many women. This style has a center ridge, quite distinctive. A very convenient hat for travelling as you can roll it up anywhere you go. The Panama Fedora Hat style is also another type where most women love to wear.

Most of the time women choose the lace crown Panama Women's Straw Hat. The lace crowns sure add a unique poise to the look. It also set apart the women’s panama hats from the Men's Panama Hats. The lace crown panama hats for the women also offer nice ventilation especially for hot weathers. The panama hats can give you the feminine look and can flatter most faces. Whatever it is, it is Panama hat. No matter what style you put on, it is a fashion accessory for most women and they love it.

How Panama Hats Are Made

The panama hats are one of the finest Straw Hats found on this earth. It is a work of art that most people would love to put their hands on it, actually heads on. People would often wonder why on earth the Panama Hats are so expensive, especially the Montecristi Hats. Well if they knew the long process that it takes to make a Panama Hat then, they would have understood why the high price tag is there. The Panama hats are made from straws and to weave to the cloth-like fineness from the straw is something that needs the hand of an artist.

The process of making the Panama hats starts right from selecting the right stalk of the Toquilla palm leaf, which grows in Ecuador. It is where the straws are taken. Usually it takes around 48 Toquilla palm stalks to weave one Panama hat. The next thing is to take the straws out from the stalks. When you peel off the stalks, you will find the strands of straw inside it.

When the strands of straw are taken out the next thing will be to boil the strands in water for some time. When it is properly done, the strands of straws are let to dry. The Cuenca and the Montecristi Hats are made differently. The Cuenca hats are bleached with chemical and the Montecristi Hat have to be smoked with sulfur. Here we will tell you more about the process of making Montecristi Hats as it requires adequate amount of time and carefulness. When all these are done, its time to start weaving.

The weaving takes some weeks and for each weave, you need special weavers to finish it-from weaving the whole hat to weaving the edge backward when the hat is finish to tightening the brim edge to cutting off the excess straws. After that, the Straw Hats are washed, bleached and dried. Next is to pound the hats to soften the straws and make it more flexible. Here you have to dusts the hats with the sulfur powder and pound. When the hats are finished pounding the extra straws are shaved using a razor. After trimming off the edges, the hat is given for ironing. The hats also have to be form into a specific Panama Hat shape and ironed. Finishing with the ironing, the hats have to go for blocking. This is a process where a hat is given the final shape. Unlike the Cuenca hats, the Montecristi Hats are blocked with hands. The former is blocked using machines. After blocking and readjusting the edges the hat is ready for giving a final touch-the ribbons. The ribbons are also sewn with hands for the Montecristi Hats.

So you see all these hard works are involved in making a Panama Straw Hat. Now you know why the Panama Hats can reach a price up to the sky. Its all the work of the master artisans.

Panama Hats

If you ever wish for a trendy gorgeous hat, then I think there is no substitution to the Panama hats. With its sporty look and lightweight, the wearer will never go unnoticed. Moreover, you will always be the center of attraction. Sport stars, top celebrities, singers, presidents, pop stars, equally love these hats. So it would not be an exaggeration if we say Panama hats are part of the fashion that never becomes old and out-dated. Despite its name, Panama Hats come from Ecuador exclusively; they acquired its name when commercialized during the Panama Canal construction in late 19 century. Today, Ecuador Panama Hats are the world finest Straw Hats available. Let’s have a look at what it is made of and how it came into existence.

Panama hat is made of very fine straws and that is what makes it so light just as a feather. The best thing is that it is hand-woven.

Depending on the texture quality and color tone, panama hats can be categorized in two types – Montecristi hats and Cuenca Panama hats. As the name suggests, the Montecristi hat is made by weavers from Montecristi situated in the coastal part of Ecuador. Being made by the finest straws of the world, the Montecristi Hats takes comparatively longer time to be completed. At the end, what we get is the natural-colored perfect hats ready-to-wear.

On the other hand, Cuenca Panama hat is crafted by the folks of Cuenca town. This hat is made by a little thicker straw. It is woven within a couple of weeks.

Original Ecuador Panama Hats are Roll Up Hats, you can roll them up when you need to store it when traveling. When you open it again you will get it in its original perfect shape.

During the construction period of the Panama Canal, hats were sold to the laborers, engineers and travelers. It became popular since that time and widely came to be known as Panama hats. In the middle of 20th century, it was in the zenith of popularity. You may find celebrities wearing this hat in the Hollywood movies like Casablanca, Key Largo, Gone with the Wind, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Man Who Would Be King. Remember the Gangster Hats. Whatever may be the reason, in today’s fashion industry as well Panama hat is one of the most desired accessories. This can provide you a look of sophistication and elegance.

What’s in a name?

You must have heard about the iconic Panama Hats. Yes then, as many others, you may think that the Panama Straw Hats are made in Panama. Is this true? Actually it’s not. The fact is the Panama Hat is not from Panama but from Ecuador. The finest of all the Panama Straw Hats comes from the town of Montecristi. All the authentic, skillfully craft Panama Straw Hats are made in Ecuador but why name it Panama Hats. Well the name got twisted with history and the story goes like this.

The Panama Straw Hats were crafted in Ecuador but were sold in Panama. The buyers didn’t know where the fine quality Straw Hats were made so, they named it after the place where it was sold. The Panama hat became popular and in great use during late 1800s. However, most likely responsible for the misnomer is the construction of the Panama Canal. The durability and high quality of the straw hat made it quite popular with the workers who arrived for the project. The name struck when President Theodore Roosevelt dubbed the name as the ‘Panama Hat’.

The main center where the Panama Straw Hats are traded is in Cuenca and Montecristi, in Ecuador. Scattered in the place are many Panama Hat weavers and shops. People from the small town of Montecristi are mostly all, involved in growing, harvesting, weaving and selling the fine Straw Hats. In Montecristi, there are very few master weavers who hand weave excellent quality Straw Hats. The finer the Montecristi Hats, the fewer will be the number. Since each of the Montecristi Hats is handmade, one by one, it takes months to weave a single hat. Hat aficionados look at the number of weaves per square inch of a Straw Hat in order to establish the quality of a Montecristi Hat. Though, the name does not give full credit to the people of Ecuador but they don’t seem to mind. They are more happy to meet the challenges of weaving the hat and finishing it with the finest touch.

Panama Straw Hats Styles

When it comes to Panama hat styles, the choice is lot to spoil anyone. The Panama Straw Hats styles differ in regards of the width of the brim and height of the crown. There are the regular brim and the wider brim.

In the regular brim, there are different Panama Fedora Hat styles. You will find many style variations in the Panama Hat Fedora. The Classic Fedora is the most common of all. This hat can credit any dressing style. You can wear it with jeans to business suits. The brim of the Classic Fedora is 23/4 inches in wide and the crown 4 ½ inches tall. The Havana Fedora is also another classic style of the Panama Fedora Hat. The crown is 5 inches, the brim 2 7/8 inches. It also has a black grosgrain ribbon with 1 ½ inches.

The Colonial Panama hat known also as Optimo and in the Ecuador as Natural was the most favorite among the British travelers. A good hat fitted for the topics. The hat has a center crease, believed to have been done with constant rolling up the hats. That turns it into becoming a different style.

In the wider brim category, you will find different varieties of style. The Plantation Panama hat also known as the Gambler Panama Straw Hat offers more shade. It was used as a working hat at sugar cane and cotton plantations. This model was worn by river boat gamblers at the Mississippi river and by horse race gamblers of Monte Carlo. This hat is has a round crown with a wide brim, which is 3 inches to 4 inches.

The Havana Panama Hat is a Cuban variation of the classic Panama Hat Fedora. The crown has a tear-drop shape and an "island" in the middle. This is the favorite model for cigar aficionados.

So you have different styles of Panama hats. The choice is many to choose and each one of them gives you a unique look of grace and sophistication. Just be aware to purchase an original Ecuador Panama Hat, since Panama Hats are really made in Ecuador.

Panama Hats and Hollywood

It is very common for the Panama hats to make an appearance in the Hollywood movies from time to time. Especially when the Panama hat was in its golden era, it made a frequent appearance. If not in the movies, the Panama hats are a favorite among actors and directors. Stars of Hollywood often wear the Panama Straw Hats on and off the screen. They have widely popularized the use of highly fashionable Panama Straw Hat.

The Montecristi Hats are quite famous with the celebrities. Mostly the hat is a way of representing a connoisseur or rich and sophisticated character and the Panama hats just fit the bill. From time to time, the Panama Hats has come into the light of Hollywood movies. You will find great actors donning the hat in the movies. Some great actors that had worn this panama hats in movies were The Naked Jungle, remember Charlton Heston and Eleanor Parker. Casablanca is another great movie where you will find the Optimo style of Panama hat don by Sydney Greenstreet and Paul Henreid donning the Panama Fedora Hat. In Fitcaraldo, actor Klaus Kinski wore the G ambler Panama hat style. In Hannibal, Antony Hopkins adorns himself with the Panama Hat Fedora.

Remember Gone With the Wind, where Clark Gable wore the Plantation panama hat style. Gregory Peck wore the Colonial model in the movie, To Kill a Mockingbird.

Perhaps the Panama Straw Hats has not accepted defeat and seem to survive giving grace and elegance to the people wearing it. Since it has never been out of the vogue for ages, it has become a favorite accessory of the actors both in the film and outside of it. Panama hats often are a style booster but more than that, it goes with every dressing so it’s a favorite whether in Hollywood or not.

Cuenca Hats And Montecristi Hats-The Difference

The Panama Hat, as everyone now know is not made in Panama. In fact, it is in Ecuador where the Panama hats are weaved. The two Ecuadorian towns of Cuenca and Montecristi are the main producers of the Panama Hats. However, these two towns do not produce the same quality of Panama Straw Hats even though the designs may be close.

So how can you tell the difference between a Cuenca hat and a Montecristi Hat? There are major differences between these two hats. The Montecristi Hat in quality is much more superior to the Cuenca hats. The Cuenca hats are made much faster so there are weaved in less time than that of the Montecristi Hats. The production level is also much larger and much cheaper to produce and sell. The Montecristi Hat on the other hand can take several months to make. More than quantity, here quality is a real issue. So in production level, the Montecristi Hats are produce less in number each year.

Another difference between the two hats is that the Cuenca hats can have only one shape. The Montecristi Hats on the other hat can have varieties of shapes. A true Montecristi Hat has the ability to re-blocked in any shape. The Cuenca hat does not have that flexibility to change shapes. Once made, the shapes are permanent. The Montecristi Hats are made to last a lifetime because the straw is so thin that becomes flexible. The Cuenca hats are made with thicker straw that might break after heavy usage. On the edge of the two hats, it is back weaved. The Cuenca hats do not have a strong back weave like that of the Montecristi Hat.

The Cuenca hats are bleached with chemicals in order to turn the different color tones of the straw into white. The straws will start breaking sooner or later if exposed to the strong sun with poor humidity. The Montecristi hats have a natural straw color and the process involves to be smoked with sulfur and hand washed in water. The process of making the Montecristi Hats are far more careful and better than the Cuenca hats.

The Montecristi Hats can be custom made to suit the taste of the buyers while the Cuenca hats are not. It is as impossible to tell the difference between a Cuenca hat or a Montecristi Hat unless you are not a hat expert. But one easy thing can help you out is the color and that is the price. The Cuenca hats are mainly white and a lot cheaper. If you find a Montecristi Hat being sold in less than $60 dollars, beware, as no Montecristi Hats are found at this price. With their fine quality, the Montecristi hats are more expensive.