Entirely hand-woven in Ecuador, the finest Panama hats can require months to complete. But did you know that the process of making a hat requires even more than weaving? Before weaving can even begin, a certain part of a certain plant has to be found, harvested, and processed, and after weaving is finished a...
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Looking for the stuff of legends? A Montecristi Panama hat woven so finely that it seems to be made of cloth, not straw? I mean the real deal. As in all the way to the top, the very finest in the world. The absolute highest expression of the Art of Montecristi. The ones all...
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Jorge and I were in Pile in the home of a weaver. She had invited us to eat our lunches at her family dining table. We’d brought our lunches with us, knowing it would be a long day and that there are no restaurants in Pile. We bought cold drinks from her, supporting the...
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BBB received an interesting email last week and we thought it would make for a good blog post. If you’ve shopped for Panamas before, you’ve likely encountered the “grading” system; think “prime” vs “choice” beef, or different grades of diamond. However, unlike meat or gems, there simply is no industry-wide standard when it comes...
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How do we decide how much to pay for a hat? Answer: count the weave, decide if the rows are straight and even, make sure there are no problems with the straw color, holes, damage, etc. We also measure the size of the hat, the crown height, the brim width. All of these factors...
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