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Panama Hat Thread

Txmason

Familiar Face
Messages
68
Location
Texas
@Lt. Tom,

That is a great hat! I am looking to buy my first fedora a straw since summer is coming up soon! I could really use everyone's advice about which straw to buy. Since I live in south Texas I'd like a hat I can wear to lodge and out and around town. Plus be able to wear it while working professional as a photographer. What should I look for in a straw hat? Can I wear a felt during the summer time? If so what should I look for?

I have heard both arguments for and against getting a felt hat. I apologize for sounding like a broken record since I'm new to all this.

Best,
Jerry
 

job

One Too Many
Messages
1,325
Location
Sanford N.C.
No felt for Texas summers. I would recommend a least two straw hats. If you sweat one up earlier in the day you can switch to the dry one. You could try panama bob. Get a cheap one and a more expensive one and you should be good.
 

splatt

One of the Regulars
Messages
261
Location
Melbourne, Australia
Me first Panama

I picked up my first real Panama hat from City Hatters in Melbourne about two weeks ago. On the label it indicates it's "Made in USA exclusively for Boutique Imports Sydney" and "Genuine Panama Hand Woven in Ecuador.".

The weather in Melbourne has been pretty hot lately and I’ve really enjoyed wearing it :)
 

bond

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,535
Location
Third coast
Any one have thom Gomez phone number ?
I have panama work for him or someone who can reblock and all of the rest.
Any info would be appreciated.
Post here or send me a pm
Thanks
 

Rabbit

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,561
Location
Germany
Any one have thom Gomez phone number ?
I have panama work for him or someone who can reblock and all of the rest.
Any info would be appreciated.
Post here or send me a pm
Thanks

I guess you have a reason for asking specifically for Tom Gomez - still, for what it's worth: Several custom hatters would do reblocking etc. on Panamas.
Optimo Chicago of course offers this service, so does Art Fawcett, I presume. Then there's Parker at Falcon Park Hattery who also does restaurations and renovations, although I don't know whether he does Panamas, too. The list goes on...dunno about the other ones regarding Panamas.
 

Historyteach24

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,447
Location
Huntington, WV
I am looking on Panama Bob's site and have my choice for my next Panama narrowed down. Before anybody comes on here bashing my choice I can not afford a high end Panama right now so I am getting one woven in Cuenca. My question is does anybody have experience with hats from this area? Also Brisa or Llano weave? Also which grade is good for the money? It seems that a grade 6 Brisa is more than a grade 6 llano does this mean the llano is inferior?
 

Txmason

Familiar Face
Messages
68
Location
Texas
My recommendation would be to check out
www.americanhatters.com

The gentleman that redid a hat I got for free did a super job! He does all types of hats and I am sure he can accommodate you. Feel free to mention you know Jerry from Texas.
 

LoveMyHats2

I’ll Lock Up.
Messages
5,196
Location
Michigan
I have a few nice straws, milan, panama, one optimo. I am lucky that none of the ones I have suffered any damages along the way, however, I did just obtain a nice shaped straw hat that was sat on by someone along it's life, and have spent time steaming and smoothing it out. I am happy with how it will look when I am finished, I have to make a new ribbon for it, it actually reminds me of a Vintage Playboy with a 2 inch brim, and the over all shape of the crown! I had it given to me for free, and it fits me like it was made for me! It is very discolored but, I am going to apply a secret weapon fix and see that I can bring the white back to it. When I am done, I'll post!
 

monbla256

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,239
Location
DFW Metroplex, Texas
I am looking on Panama Bob's site and have my choice for my next Panama narrowed down. Before anybody comes on here bashing my choice I can not afford a high end Panama right now so I am getting one woven in Cuenca. My question is does anybody have experience with hats from this area? Also Brisa or Llano weave? Also which grade is good for the money? It seems that a grade 6 Brisa is more than a grade 6 llano does this mean the llano is inferior?

As far as which weave is "better", it depends on what you like looks wise. The Brisa weaves are a bit more open and some say "looser", the Llano weave is a tighter herringbone pattern very similar to that used on the Montecristi's. Niether one is "inferior", just different from each other. I have both types of Cuenca's as well as several Montecristi's, all bought from Bob and ALL were really BETTER hats than would have been priced at MORE from other suppliers. You need to just decide WHICH look is what YOU like and can AFFORD and go for it!! No matter which you choose, from Bob you will get a GOOD one :)
 

Aureliano

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,753
Location
Macondo.
ALL were really BETTER hats that would have been priced at MORE from other suppliers.

Did you actually handled similar hats from the other suppliers and came to the conclusion that they were better? Or are you basing your opinion on visual documentation posted here or other online places?
 

Iyor

One of the Regulars
Messages
200
Location
NYC
Did you actually handled similar hats from the other suppliers and came to the conclusion that they were better? Or are you basing your opinion on visual documentation posted here or other online places?

I understood better to mean as in a better hat as opposed to a poor quality, but not necessarily better than other sources. He also may mean dor the money wbich in that case is debatable.
 

Historyteach24

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,447
Location
Huntington, WV
Alright well I decided that I wanted to know which each hat felt like and which one I preferred so I actually bought two. This of course means that I skimped on quality for one of them but I really want to learn more about panamas and I feel the best way to do that is to handle them and know their grades etc. http://www.panamas.biz/cuenca.html
I got the Rio Plata in a grade 4 llano white in color and I added a Havana in a grade 1 brisa weave. Plata I requested a 2.5 inch brim and on the Havana I want a 2 3/8 brim. We should see how these look in 6 weeks or so :)
 

Duper

Practically Family
Messages
899
Location
Ontario, Canada
Alright well I decided that I wanted to know which each hat felt like and which one I preferred so I actually bought two. This of course means that I skimped on quality for one of them but I really want to learn more about panamas and I feel the best way to do that is to handle them and know their grades etc. http://www.panamas.biz/cuenca.html
I got the Rio Plata in a grade 4 llano white in color and I added a Havana in a grade 1 brisa weave. Plata I requested a 2.5 inch brim and on the Havana I want a 2 3/8 brim. We should see how these look in 6 weeks or so :)

Hey HT24, I have a white Cuenca Havana with a 2 5/8ths brim in a Llano weave on order as well from Robert (Panama Bob). Hopefully some warmer days, sunshine and the hat will arrive at about the same time.
 

Historyteach24

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,447
Location
Huntington, WV
Duper we haven't even had a winter here in WV. I actually wore Panamas for an entire week in january because of the 60 degree temps. With the way this weather goes I may need to store my felts by early March lol
 

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