Bleach Job

Bleach Job

5. Bleaching the Straw

Waiting for straw to dry is not an especially exciting spectator sport. Not even in a tiny village in rural Ecuador with no cable TV service.

On that particular day, the straw dried in exactly as much time as it takes a thirsty man to drink two bottles of Pilsener and swap some stories.

tour_05_01_straw5.jpg
tour_05_02_straw6.jpg Sleeping dog

“Let it lie. Just let it lie,” I told myself.

tour_05_04_saeb5.jpg

When the straw is dry, Simón takes it around back and arranges the tallos on shelves inside a wood bleaching box he built.

tour_05_05_saeb.jpg
tour_05_06_inbox.jpg

Simón arranges the straw in the box to his satisfaction (left), then pulls a cover over the box to close and seal it as best he can. (below)

tour_05_07_saeb7.jpg tour_05_08_saeb8.jpg

The Young Inspector looks on to make certain Simón does it properly.

When the box has been closed up, Simón puts crumbled sulfur into a ceramic bowl. (below)

tour_05_09_saeb2.jpg tour_05_10_saeb1.jpg

Then he puts burning embers onto the sulfur and slides it all under the box. (below)

The coals will burn the sulfur. The sulfur smoke will fill the closed box and bleach the straw.

The straw will be left inside the box over night.

tour_05_11_saeb3.jpg tour_05_12_saeb4.jpg

Next, see how a hat is born.
NEXT PAGE

tour_05_13_IMG_3885.jpg

6. Beginning the Weaving go to

 
The Panama Hat Company of the Pacific dba Brent Black Panama Hats 1314 Center Dr., Suite B-448 Medford, OR 97501 There is no retail store at this address. (more) Toll Free: (888) 658-6500 Phone: (541) 201-3113

Text and photos © 1988-2022, B. Brent Black. All rights reserved.

100% Secure Shopping

We accept PayPal We accept Visa We accept MasterCard We accept AMEX We accept Discover We accept Diners Club We accept JCB
 
Click for the BBB Business Review of this Hats - Wholesale & Manufacturers in Kailua HI
 

 

111 Hekili Street, Suite A-293; Kailua, HI 96734 Ph: (888) 658-6500 Fax: (808) 262-7725 www.BrentBlack.com