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.