I am out to buy my very first montecristi.

[pajabrava]

I am out to buy my very first montecristi hat and I wonder if anyone ever purchased directly from Ecuador.
Most vendors have the same hat styles. The choice must lay on quality, professionalism or honesty.
Good or Bad, love to hear your comments/recommendations.

http://www.montecuadorhat.com
http://www.panamahatsdirect.com
http://www.panamahatcollection.com

or any other direct seller.

P.S. I did try searching but nothing.

 

[johnnycanuck]

I have bought from Panamahatsdirect. Good experience. Nothing bad to say. Still have the hat sitting in my closet right now.
Johnny

 

[Duper]

I have also purchased from Panamahatsdirect. They treated me very well. Casey even had my last order on file when I called back to order another so he had my proper hat sizing info already. Also he has really stepped up his game with the revised website. I was wearing one of his panama just this week.

,,,Mike in Canada

 

[daizawaguy]

Worth and Worth NY or Optimo Chicago

 

[Drdan]

If you plan on purchasing anything other than an entry level Panama, I would read up on them first. Brent Black has a superb website that explains all the qualities of an excellent Montecristi Panama hat. Read the entire website, and you'll be ready to make an informed purchase. His hats are sublime, but be prepared to pay.

I would avoid purchasing a Montecristi from any dealer or shop which doesn't clearly talk about weaves per square inch, but instead talks about "grades" with numbers, qualities such as master or museum, or the use of extra fino, super fino, etc. Using anything but specific weave counts in describing the quality varies tremendously within the industry. Be able to recognize uneven rows of weaving, loose weaves, broken straws, type of weave (e.g., llano or brisa), uneven coloration, knots or twisted straw, etc.

One well known shop offers "Museum quality" Montecristis, with weave counts listed as being from 145-400. Moving on to a specific hat, I see that their weave count is given in centimeters. For those of you living in the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar, 2.54 centimeters = one inch, so the $775.00 "museum quality" hat you place in the online shopping cart can have anywhere from 362 wpsi to 1,000 wpsi. I'm sure the shop would be more happy to sell you a 400 wpsi Montecristi for $775.00 as opposed to a 1,000 wpsi hat for the same price! Caveat emptor, most shops and sellers don't want you to know a lot about Montecrisit hats... Do your homework before pulling the trigger.

Consider getting an unblocked hat, as a professional hatter found on FL or elsewhere can do a much better block in the exact style you want, and generally can use a higher quality sweatband and ribbon. If the hat is already blocked, make sure you're getting a leather sweatband, not a fabric band which will allow sweat to more easily soak through and stain the straw and the ribbon. If the idea of having your Panama blocked in the U.S. appeals to you, find a hatter on FL who has done this many times before, and work out the fee to be charged before you purchase your unfinished hat. A superb professional blocking will make a good quality Montecrisit shine!

Ask any shop or online seller to send you more detailed photos if you are not completely satisfied with those you already viewed. Even ask the seller to send you a photo with a ruler placed horizonatally on the weave so you can take your own count, and ask for photos of the specific hat that you are considering. If the seller doesn't get back to you, there's a problem. Anyone with a smartphone can take a photo of a hat with a ruler on it within a minute... :wink:

Asking prices for the Montecristi you desire will vary considerably. Be able to recognize "sales puffery", and realise that many sellers and shops markup their hats from fair to absurd profit margins. Understand also that most sellers can find you weave counts up to perhaps 30 linear weaves per inch. The higher you go above this, the rarer the hat will be, and fewer sellers will be able to procure them. If you want a 4,000 wpsi hat, Brent Black has your name on it!

To find feedback on various online sellers or shops, place PanamasRuS site: thefedoralounge.com or whatever the seller's name is in the search engine.

Buona fortuna!

 

[Daniele Tanto]

Pajabrava,
buy a Montecristi depends on how long you think you use it according to the weather you have in your area.
It is important to take into account how much it rains and if the area is windy.
Set these parameters have to deal with your wallet and decide for the amount that you have decided whether you want one, two or three hats.
The straw hats, are they Montecristi and Cuenca or other sources, are delicate and in some respects fragile and prone to be "consumed" quickly enough.
For these reasons I have not yet bought "Super Montecristi", but a series of straw hats for the long hot Italian summer.
I bought straw hats simple and lasting for the beach, others more elegant for shelter from the sun.
My purchases for Panama have been made in Italy and PanamaHatsDirect.
I found good-excellent opportunities in both shops without exceeding the 150-200 ($ 170-220) euro per hat.
This is the maximum that I have given to the Panama considered the above.
My personal tastes keep me away from Panama too white with black ribbon, those too flexible that are struggling to remain on the head and those that get dirty just looking at them.
PanamHatsDirect has an extended range of hats and the information on the site is done well and is very good cooperation in the sales staff.
In Italy I went in person so I could have chosen directly.
My final thought is that the straw hats are of limited use and give them too much money is useless

 

[Drdan]

Good points, Daniele!

I have an "entry level" Montecristi that I'll wear to the beach, and I'm not going to be too concerned if there's an unexpected rain shower. The better hats are beautiful, but if you have some really high wpsi hats, it's best to wear them only for special occasions, unless you plan on replacing them regularly. That being said, the finer hats will last for many years if you properly take care of them, avoid soiling them as much as possible, and don't get them drenched either with water or with sweat.

There's a big difference between a $200 and a $2,000 Montecristi, but there's also a substantial price increase, which might not necessarily equate to a significant increase in the perceived qualitative value.

 

[Lean'n'mean]

My final thought is that the straw hats are of limited use and give them too much money is useless

True enough but for many of those who can afford it, prestige is more important than function. Most of the general public probably couldn't tell a 20€ sraw hat from a supermarket, from a 5000€ Montecristi but for the connaisseurs, having something exceptional on their heads is their prime motivation, regardless of the fragiity of such hats. Besides Anyone who can pay thousands of euros just for a hat can probably afford to replace it should it become unwearable.

 

[alanfgag]

There are other straws besides toquilla from Ecuador. If you have a modest head size and an interest in vintage hats, you can widen your search. You can review a comparison post of several straw weaves here.

 

[pajabrava]

Consider getting an unblocked hat, as a professional hatter found on FL or elsewhere can do a much better block in the exact style you want, and generally can use a higher quality sweatband and ribbon.

Thanks for your reply ... very educational.

I am indeed looking for an entry level panama to be functional. I also want a wide brim due to Florida sun and also I am on the chubby side .

From panamahatsdirect:
Style: Gambler or Fedora #2
Grade: 250-350 WPI or 400-500 WPI
Brim: 3.5 in to 4 in

The option to have the hat blocked in the US never occurred to me, you recommend “Consider getting an unblocked hat, as a professional hatter found on FL”, … I live in Florida, If you have an address that you might share with me will it will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Drdan]

Thanks for your reply ... very educational.

I am indeed looking for an entry level panama to be functional. I also want a wide brim due to Florida sun and also I am on the chubby side .

From panamahatsdirect:
Style: Gambler or Fedora #2
Grade: 250-350 WPI or 400-500 WPI
Brim: 3.5 in to 4 in

The option to have the hat blocked in the US never occurred to me, you recommend “Consider getting an unblocked hat, as a professional hatter found on FL”, … I live in Florida, If you have an address that you might share with me will it will be greatly appreciated.

With the wpsi range you are considering, you'll be a step up from "entry level". You'll find a very good quality Montecristi, especially if you choose around 400 wpsi. On top of the page you will see the Fedora Lounge logo with the hat... Underneath, there are various advertisers shown in a changing rectangular window. Click on "The Quiet Elegance of Bespoke VS". Lots of FL members have their straw hats blocked by the owner, Art Faucett, and I've heard only good reports. The same goes for nararee, owner of Black Sheep Hat works, and a FL member.

Do a search on "blocking Panamas", or "Art Faucett", or "Black Sheep" and you'll get the needed info. If someone reads this, and wants to post their experiences pertaining to a straw hat blocked by Art, or Bob and add a photo or two, that's a good head's up too...

Enjoy the custom experience, and getting exactly the hat that you desire.

 

[KILO NOVEMBER]

Maybe he's upped his game in the recent past, but I had two deeply unsatisfactory experiences with Casey about five years ago.

I can recommend Panama Bob for reasonably-priced Ecuadorian straw hats. He can have them blocked in South America, or if you prefer a higher-grade finishing, get the bodies from Bob and send them to Batsakes in Cincinnati, Ohio for blocking and finishing. Providing, of course dealing with a mid-Western American company is convenient for you.

 

[KILO NOVEMBER]

Do a search on "blocking Panamas", or "Art Faucett", ...

You'll have more success if you search for "Art Fawcett, or better yet, just visit his web site http://vintagesilhouettes.com/

 

[JoeyC]

A Montecristi hat works Optimo, pricey but nice. This ones about 10 yrs. old.

 

[JoeyC]

Also Montecristi, a big ol' western. It originally had a cattlemen crease but I reshaped it, more like a cattle Baron.

 

[Bob Bobson]

If you plan on purchasing anything other than an entry level Panama, I would read up on them first. Brent Black has a superb website that explains all the qualities of an excellent Montecristi Panama hat. Read the entire website, and you'll be ready to make an informed purchase. His hats are sublime, but be prepared to pay.

I would avoid purchasing a Montecristi from any dealer or shop which doesn't clearly talk about weaves per square inch, but instead talks about "grades" with numbers, qualities such as master or museum, or the use of extra fino, super fino, etc. Using anything but specific weave counts in describing the quality varies tremendously within the industry. Be able to recognize uneven rows of weaving, loose weaves, broken straws, type of weave (e.g., llano or brisa), uneven coloration, knots or twisted straw, etc.

One well known shop offers "Museum quality" Montecristis, with weave counts listed as being from 145-400. Moving on to a specific hat, I see that their weave count is given in centimeters. For those of you living in the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar, 2.54 centimeters = one inch, so the $775.00 "museum quality" hat you place in the online shopping cart can have anywhere from 362 wpsi to 1,000 wpsi. I'm sure the shop would be more happy to sell you a 400 wpsi Montecristi for $775.00 as opposed to a 1,000 wpsi hat for the same price! Caveat emptor, most shops and sellers don't want you to know a lot about Montecrisit hats... Do your homework before pulling the trigger.

Consider getting an unblocked hat, as a professional hatter found on FL or elsewhere can do a much better block in the exact style you want, and generally can use a higher quality sweatband and ribbon. If the hat is already blocked, make sure you're getting a leather sweatband, not a fabric band which will allow sweat to more easily soak through and stain the straw and the ribbon. If the idea of having your Panama blocked in the U.S. appeals to you, find a hatter on FL who has done this many times before, and work out the fee to be charged before you purchase your unfinished hat. A superb professional blocking will make a good quality Montecrisit shine!

Ask any shop or online seller to send you more detailed photos if you are not completely satisfied with those you already viewed. Even ask the seller to send you a photo with a ruler placed horizonatally on the weave so you can take your own count, and ask for photos of the specific hat that you are considering. If the seller doesn't get back to you, there's a problem. Anyone with a smartphone can take a photo of a hat with a ruler on it within a minute... :wink:

Asking prices for the Montecristi you desire will vary considerably. Be able to recognize "sales puffery", and realise that many sellers and shops markup their hats from fair to absurd profit margins. Understand also that most sellers can find you weave counts up to perhaps 30 linear weaves per inch. The higher you go above this, the rarer the hat will be, and fewer sellers will be able to procure them. If you want a 4,000 wpsi hat, Brent Black has your name on it!

To find feedback on various online sellers or shops, place PanamasRuS site: thefedoralounge.com or whatever the seller's name is in the search engine.

Buona fortuna!

Great advice all around, but I disagree about leather hat bands. I'm in south Georgia, and the leather is completely uncomfortable. I just sent my hat to Art and asked specifically to change to something more suitable to sweating-all-the-time weather. Not to mention, all that sweating shrinks and otherwise wreaks havoc on the leather band and misshapes the hat. I also note that Brent Black shares the opinion for what that's worth. In short, if you're buying it for special occasions, by all means go leather, but if you plan to wear it and live in the appropriate climate to do so, I'd opt for some type of sturdy fabric sweatband. My $.02.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Drdan]

You'll have more success if you search for "Art Fawcett, or better yet, just visit his web site http://vintagesilhouettes.com/

Fawcett, right. Sorry Art!

 

[JoeyC]

Great advice all around, but I disagree about leather hat bands. I'm in south Georgia, and the leather is completely uncomfortable. I just sent my hat to Art and asked specifically to change to something more suitable to sweating-all-the-time weather. Not to mention, all that sweating shrinks and otherwise wreaks havoc on the leather band and misshapes the hat. I also note that Brent Black shares the opinion for what that's worth. In short, if you're buying it for special occasions, by all means go leather, but if you plan to wear it and live in the appropriate climate to do so, I'd opt for some type of sturdy fabric sweatband. My $.02.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Borsalino happens to agree as well. I wear hats with both leather and fabric sweats, I find fabric a bit more comfortable when wearing for long periods especially in really hot humid weather.

 

[fedoralover]

I have a Monticristi from Panama hats direct about 800 to 900 Wpi. I was wearing it at a Sushi bar a month ago when another guy came in wearing a real nice Monti. I had to ask him about it. We got to talking hats and he said he got it from Optimo and it was one of his cheaper hats, it only cost $1000.00. No kidding. He took it off and we compared weaves, his statement and I quote "I see yours is a finer weave than mine". Now don't misunderstand, it was a really nice looking hat, that's why I went over and asked him about it. I only post this not to slam Optimo, but to let you know, that other Monti's can be as nice or better than Optimo's at a lesser price.

fedoralover

 

[alanfgag]

Borsalino happens to agree as well. I wear hats with both leather and fabric sweats, I find fabric a bit more comfortable when wearing for long periods especially in really hot humid weather.

A fabric sweatband is cheap, feels comfortable and will allow perspiration to penetrate and reach the hat body. Choose a good quality leather sweatband.