A question of taste? Style?

[Panamabob]

What do you guys think about the ribbons on sweatbands for Montecristi hats.

In Ecuador, we don't do anything fancy...no ribbons.

About half of the hats in USA I see have ribbons.

What thoughts do you have?

 

[Phil_in_CS]

I wouldn't think of it as a panama without the ribbon. That's part of what makes the style for me; the light colored hat and the black ribbon.

 

[SHARPETOYS]

All colors for me.

I love the grosgrain ribbons and I have several colors besides black on my Panama hats. I like to change mine up with pugaree bands since you can put them over your ribbon hat band. This way your hat goes with your outfit.

Some of the nicest pugree hat bands I have seen are the 100% silk ones from one of our members here.

http://www.getahaton.com/proddetail.php?prod=BD4

 

[Panamabob]

I'm sorry, referring to the little, tiny, cutesy ribbon to hide stitching on the sweatband. Gotta run to registration at school.

 

[Michael D]

Reeded sweatband

I care less about the little ribbon on the sweatband than I do about how good the sweatband is. I'd rather the leather sweatbands from Ecuador where reeded so the sweat didn't go directly into the straw.

Mike

 

[Panamabob]

Michael,

Thanks for answering the question and adding a nice little bonus. We tried to give a leathermith some more work in Ecuador. I can see that it isn't worth trying to help them out. Good leather in USA only costs about a $1.00 more so we'll just use that. It doesn't vale la pena.

 

[android]

You need to find out where Optimo gets their sweatbands.

I bought some roan sweats from Fern Thatcher. The leather seems to be good quality, but the stitching holding on the reed is raised and irritating against the forehead. Grahams sweats have the stitching done so that it is flush with the leather.

 

[feltfan]

tradition

As I understand it, the bow is the last vestige of the days
when the sweat band was adjustable. Some vintage Borsalino
sweats from the 50s to the 70s have a bit more of a vestige-
the bow ribbon runs through the back half of the sweat band
as if it were adjustable, but it's not.

I am all for keeping the nod to tradition. I was very
annoyed once when I had a sweat band replaced and,
in spite of my request, they failed to put the old bow
back in.

 

[Panamabob]

Most hatters don't like to share trade secrets. I'll get someone to help out on this.

This sounds like a job for Captain Sharpetoys.

 

[scotrace]

Oh THAT bow

Sorry to be such a thicky.

Personally, I think it adds a "finished" look to the sweatband, and I like it. But one expects a different level of "finish" for different hats. An Optimo felt fedora with a roaned sweat and nice ribbon treatment, stitched satin liner and wind string I expect to have a little cute bow. My straw, unlined summer Panama, I do not.

 

[Johnnysan]

I second scotrace's post...it depends on the hat and how I'll be using it. Beyond that, I'm not sure I'd miss it if it weren't there.

 

[SHARPETOYS]

It depends.

What do you guys think about the ribbons on sweatbands for Montecristi hats.

In Ecuador, we don't do anything fancy...no ribbons.

About half of the hats in USA I see have ribbons.

What thoughts do you have?

I like them on my higher priced Montecristi Panama hats. It gives the hats a touch of class which they deserve. :cool2: