Panama Hat Thread

[deadlyhandsome]

Montechristi Semi Calado panama hat from Montecuadorhats. Size 58 with the brim at 8,5cm and the crown at 10cm. I think this is in fact a women's hat, but I wanted it anyway to see if my assessment of the weave was right. It was; this is a finely woven hat. Quite floppy too.
Looking at the website of this company they seem to have finely woven hats on offer for good prices. The sweatband is fabric and the blocking is round rather than oval, which is consistent for a women's hat. If I wanted to convert it to a men's hat it would need some work. PM me if you want this one to convert it.

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It makes me think of @Bill Hughes
I think Bill has been showing restraint in keeping his collection under control lately.

 

[Rmccamey]

Bill has one of those special collections that deserves it's own thread!

It makes me think of @Bill Hughes
I think Bill has been showing restraint in keeping his collection under control lately.

 

[belfastboy]

Bill has one of those special collections that deserves it's own thread!

Bill has so many awesome straws he even sold me one of his Art Fawcett MIlan beauties.

 

[Rmccamey]

I don't have any of his straws but Bill did sell me a couple of his felt "seconds" A One Hundfed and a Brass Rooster.

Bill has so many awesome straws he even sold me one of his Art Fawcett MIlan beauties.

 

[ChetJ]

Hi all, trying to gain more info about my grandfathers hat from circa 1950. Please see attached photos and provide any information that you can.
Thanks in advance...

 

[hatsRme]

Hi all, trying to gain more info about my grandfathers hat from circa 1950. Please see attached photos and provide any information that you can.
Thanks in advance... View attachment 594280 View attachment 594281 View attachment 594282 View attachment 594283 View attachment 594284

VERY nice lid. I like it!!

 

[JeffOYB]

Hi! Does anyone know what style of hat this is? I suppose it is a Gambler? In glancing at online pics of that style it looks like most have a round crown. This has a teardrop shape with a pinch at the front. I thought PHD had such a style but now I do not see it. Thanks. This is my uncles old hat. He cut a figure back in the day with it. And was interesting in countless ways. (Hat in pic looks shorter brim but similar band.) I plan to have a hat like this old one made for me.

 

[belfastboy]

Hi! Does anyone know what style of hat this is? I suppose it is a Gambler? In glancing at online pics of that style it looks like most have a round crown. This has a teardrop shape with a pinch at the front. I thought PHD had such a style but now I do not see it. Thanks. This is my uncles old hat. He cut a figure back in the day with it. And was interesting in countless ways. (Hat in pic looks shorter brim but similar band.) I plan to have a hat like this old one made for me.

Ask PHD if they are willing to make you this hat. No reason they can't. It looks to be a mish/mash of a few different styles.

 

[CRH]

Ask PHD if they are willing to make you this hat. No reason they can't. It looks to be a mish/mash of a few different styles.

Start a dialog with Casey at PHD. He'll get you a hat at a price point you can afford. I'm pretty sure a big brimmed and pencil curled telescope gambler is on my list

 

[Playdablues]

OK OK! I give up. I've read almost all 248 pages of this thread in an attempt to educate myself. I have decided to get a new summer hat!

Has anyone done business with Truffaux Hatmakers? https://www.truffaux.com
I'm curious to see how everyone's thoughts align with this video, particularly in regards to shrinking and his reinforced brim rings. I know the back weave edge is desired, but do they eventually fringe out? Shrinking?

I think I have it narrowed down to Truffaux or Panamahatsdirect.com. I'm really looking mostly for a Brisa Cuenca. Something on the durable side. Eventually I may spring for a Montecristi Super Fino to wear once in a great while (I'm pretty rough on stuff). Anyways thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Lukacs]

OK OK! I give up. I've read almost all 248 pages of this thread in an attempt to educate myself. I have decided to get a new summer hat!

Has anyone done business with Truffaux Hatmakers? https://www.truffaux.com
I'm curious to see how everyone's thoughts align with this video, particularly in regards to shrinking and his reinforced brim rings. I know the back weave edge is desired, but do they eventually fringe out? Shrinking?

I think I have it narrowed down to Truffaux or Panamahatsdirect.com. I'm really looking mostly for a Brisa Cuenca. Something on the durable side. Eventually I may spring for a Montecristi Super Fino to wear once in a great while (I'm pretty rough on stuff). Anyways thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Lukacs]

Wow! Playdablues, that’s dedication. I’ve not heard of Truffaux Hatmakers, but I have experience with Panama Hats Direct and can attest to their service and the quality of their hats. You can get better blocking and sweatbands elsewhere, but at PHD, you’re buying a genuine Panama Hat for a great price point. You said that you’re hard on hats. Trust me, better quality hats are worth buying. The softness and beauty of a Montecristi vs. a Cuenca are quite evident. I have both. Call PHD. They’ll steer you in the right direction.

 

[ruvort]

Optimo style today:

 

[Playdablues]

Here is a video on Panama hat weavers

I love the hat Angleita Espinoza is wearing at 3:38. She also wears it in a light rain at 3:54 so it must be fairly durable. Looks similar to a Cuenca,with wider palm strands. I found the store in the video they have a couple of similar hats but not the same pattern. Their store is broken I get an error 404 when I try to add a hat to a cart. https://museodelsombrero.com.ec/ not sure if they use the same weavers (Weavers Association in Puzhio Ecuador). Wish I could go to Ecuador and have her to weave me a hat like hers and pay her well/fairly.

 

[JeffOYB]

I have a new super fino straw hat. my one and only! ...it has a silk cloth lining inside the crown. Why is this? I love my hats to breathe. I NEED IT! ... I never looked inside! This hat is only a few months old. my first hot season is starting! Can I just tear it out? I need to breathe!

 

[belfastboy]

I have a new super fino straw hat. my one and only! ...it has a silk cloth lining inside the crown. Why is this? I love my hats to breathe. I NEED IT! ... I never looked inside! This hat is only a few months old. my first hot season is starting! Can I just tear it out? I need to breathe!

That is def weird. Fold out the sweat band and inspect the liner. Likely is has been glued in. It likely has been hot glued in 3 or 4 spots. Carefully run your finger under the lining to locate the glued areas and gently peel the liner away. I repeat...carefully.

 

[Olumin]

Considering how little Cuenca/Montecristi Fino’s breathe, I doubt a liner would even make much of a difference.
With my fino, I can pick it up from a table and feel the suction as I lift it off. I doubt there is any significant airflow.

A practice I haven't really seen with Panamas (tough it may have been done with vintage hats), is installing a plastic sweat blocker underneath the sweatband. Like a piece of cellophane sewn between the band and hat body. One could even use a fishing line type thread, as it wouldn't wick moisture like cotton does.

Another thing I’ve rarely seen: Panama hats with wind cords. Perhaps the straw is too fragile? You could always use a piece of leather backing & sew the cord onto that instead. I'd love a wind cord on my panamas.

 

[belfastboy]

Considering how little Cuenca/Montecristi Fino’s breathe, I doubt a liner would even make much of a difference.
With my fino, I can pick it up from a table and feel the suction as I lift it off. I doubt there is any significant airflow.

A practice I haven't really seen with Panamas (tough it may have been done with vintage hats), is installing a plastic sweat blocker underneath the sweatband. Like a piece of cellophane sewn between the band and hat body. One could even use a fishing line type thread, as it wouldn't wick moisture like cotton does.

Another thing I’ve rarely seen: Panama hats with wind cords. Perhaps the straw is too fragile? You could always use a piece of leather backing & sew the cord onto that instead. I'd love a wind cord on my panamas.

A lady came into my shop last week with a very nice straw hat she picked up on holiday. I am sewing in a leather sweat band that should help the hat fit better on her head. But, she refrains from wearing it as she fears it blowing off her head. So I am making her a light weight stampede string, when not in use she can stuff it into the crown. I am hoping that will help to ease her mind so she can wear the damn thing. A wind cord would not do her any good as she would be wearing Tshirts on hot days with no button holes for the wind cord.

 

[wsmontana]

Vintage Resistol Panama. More pics at the Resistol Roundup:
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-resistol-roundup.42092/post-3105162

 

[The Shoe]

A lady came into my shop last week with a very nice straw hat she picked up on holiday. I am sewing in a leather sweat band that should help the hat fit better on her head. But, she refrains from wearing it as she fears it blowing off her head. So I am making her a light weight stampede string, when not in use she can stuff it into the crown. I am hoping that will help to ease her mind so she can wear the damn thing. A wind cord would not do her any good as she would be wearing Tshirts on hot days with no button holes for the wind cord.

Maxim, a women’s hat maker in Japan, provides little stretchy cords with their hats that attach between the stitches of the sweat band. You then arrange it under your hair to hold the hat on.
Etsuko says she can’t feel it when wearing the hat. A good option for those with mid-long length hair.