JC Montecristi Hat
New in Town
- Messages
- 34
- Location
- Manta, Manabí, Ecuador
One thing I want to talk about is that there are more Montecristis hats in stores than are actually produced, I am not talking about Panama exporting more Panama hats than Ecuador itself; that would be another matter.
At the end of 1800 the difference between a Montecristi and Cuenca hat did not exist, the hats were woven in the same way and the same straw was used, this was obtained from Manabi. In the 90's everything changed with the appearance of the weave Brisa, Torcido and Crochet, the straw began to be bought in Santa Elena. People have in mind that the Montecristi hat is a llano (plain) weave made with natural straw, but straw can determine where it comes from, mainly its texture. Only connoisseurs can determine if it is Cuenca or Montecristi, but sometimes it can be complicated, you would have to have a Montecristi on hand to compare. Most of the Calados are made in Cuenca, even the group of weavers who make the fine Montecristi Calados (the best in the world) don't make the Montecristi Custom Hat Works, they haven't made wide brim hats in years.
As I know Montecristi, the landscapes and weavers that they have shown in their social networks do not correspond to Montecristi, but now they have made it public I will leave you an image where they confirm it.
I don't blame them, it's cheaper to buy in Cuenca, many others buy there, All these hats are woven in Biblian in the province of Cañar. In Biblian there are many more weavers than all Montecristi and it is not a main activity it is only an extra income for most weavers
At the end of 1800 the difference between a Montecristi and Cuenca hat did not exist, the hats were woven in the same way and the same straw was used, this was obtained from Manabi. In the 90's everything changed with the appearance of the weave Brisa, Torcido and Crochet, the straw began to be bought in Santa Elena. People have in mind that the Montecristi hat is a llano (plain) weave made with natural straw, but straw can determine where it comes from, mainly its texture. Only connoisseurs can determine if it is Cuenca or Montecristi, but sometimes it can be complicated, you would have to have a Montecristi on hand to compare. Most of the Calados are made in Cuenca, even the group of weavers who make the fine Montecristi Calados (the best in the world) don't make the Montecristi Custom Hat Works, they haven't made wide brim hats in years.
As I know Montecristi, the landscapes and weavers that they have shown in their social networks do not correspond to Montecristi, but now they have made it public I will leave you an image where they confirm it.
I don't blame them, it's cheaper to buy in Cuenca, many others buy there, All these hats are woven in Biblian in the province of Cañar. In Biblian there are many more weavers than all Montecristi and it is not a main activity it is only an extra income for most weavers