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.