Panama Hats
Panama hats and genuine panama straw
The straw that is called panama straw is found in Ecuador and originates from the leaves of the jipijapa plant, a palm-like plant. For several centuries, the people in the coastal area of Ecuador and some regions in the Andes Mountains have specialised in hand-weaving hats from dried leaves. Finished hats used to be transported to Panama before exporters sent them to the final destination in Europe, Asia and the United
History of the panama hat
In 1904, President Roosevelt visited Panama to inspect the Panama Canal project. He was offered an Ecuadorian straw hat as protection against the sun. Ever since his pictures while wearing the hat went over the world, people called this particular straw hat panama hat. There are various grades or qualities and ways of weaving panama hats. The most refined weave is called Montecristi, and this quality will allow you to roll the panama hat and pass it through a wedding ring. However, superfine Montecristi straw hats have become very rare and expensive.
Fine quality Bronté panama straw hats
At Bronté, you will find an excellent quality Panama straw hat at a value-for-money price level ( euro 139,- - euro 300,-). All Bronté panama fedora and trilby hats for men have an additional silicon layer inside the crown to protect the dents of the hat crown. In most Bronté fedora hats for women, like Patricia , you will find a layer of silicon protection in the marks. Panama hats with a crochet weave in the crown, like Jasper, do not have the silicon layer as the straw is more flexible and open.
Care advice for a panama hat
We recommend handling a panama straw hat with more care compared to a felt hat. You best handle the panama summer hat like you handle an unboiled egg. We advise putting it on and off by taking the hat at the brim instead of touching the crown. That way, your panama fedora or trilby hat will stay nice for summers to come. In our winters, the air is often relatively dry due to central heating, which might cause the weave of the panama hat to break.
Storage
Store the panama straw hat in a large plastic bag, breathe into the bag to get a balloon size and close the bag well. The moisture in the plastic bag will prevent the panama hat from drying out.
Bronté panama Collection For Men and Women
Check Bronté's full range of Panama hat styles, like a bleach-dyed fedora hat like the Thomas and a taupe tone panama hat in the Luc style. You will als find trilby and top hat, pork-pie and capeline styles.
Do not hesitate to contact us in case of questions of need for style consultancy at info@bronteshop.com
