Panama Montecristi Fino Hats

Many people know that these panama hats are woven by hand and around the small town of Montecristi, Ecuador. The locals know the plant as "paja toquilla". The "fino" quality can be quite expensive - even into the thousands of dollars, so it is no surprise that potential hat buyers want to know as much as they can before purchasing. Further complicating questions about the panama hats itself is the fact that these hats often come to the North American market in their most basic state - unblocked, without a sweatband, and without a decorative trim. Buying the hat this way has advantages and disadvantages. I have traveled around the world with my basic unblocked Montecristi Fino Panama Hat and it has served me very well. But because most hats in North America come to the retail market in a more finished state, the hat requires some explanation.

Panama hats can be rolled like fine linen and stored in a balsa wood box, often with the Ecuadorian flag decorating the box.This is true, but the owner must understand that this will create a crease in the crown of the hat.For many this is no problem - the crease becomes a style point, not dissimilar from the "optimo" style crown.Half the hat is folded into the other half and it is carefully rolled from there.The big cigar shape is then held in place by double or triple looping the grosgrain trim and slipping it around the rolled hat. Panama hat can be stored in the box, packed in a suitcase, or put in the pocket of one's trousers when walking about and choosing not to wear the hat.When the hat is unrolled, it may take some minutes for the material to relax and expand so that it is again "a hat".Regularly rolling and unrolling your Panama hat will shorten its life span, as the straw will eventually crack. If you are a stickler for getting the absolute most time of service from products that you purchase, we recommend not rolling your hat.

We include two options with a panama hat purchase.1. The traditional grosgrain ribbon. Place the hat on your head. Run the ribbon around the base of the crown and pull it so that the hat fits snugly, not too tight, on your head.Tie a knot or make a bow at the point where the fit is most comfortable. Typically this knot or bow is slid to the left side for man and to the right side for woman.2. The elastic trim. During a trip to Ecuador, we discovered some upscale boutiques sold trim that was elasticized so that the hat wearer could simply stretch the trim onto the hat. When we returned to California, we purchased the material and now make these ourselves. We include one, as an option, with a purchase.