Panama Hats

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Panama Hats

Panama Hats are an iconic style that have withstood the test of time. Renowned for their fine handcrafted quality as well as their enduring aesthetic, Panama Hats continue to be a sought-after commodity. Genuine Panama Hats hail from Ecuador where Toquilla palm straw (known as paja toquilla in Spanish) is grown, harvested, processed, and artisanally handwoven into hat bodies according to age-old tradition. From there, the hat bodies are either blocked and finished domestically or exported around the world to be blocked and finished by other hat manufacturers. 

Although not standardized across the industry, Panama Hat quality is traditionally "graded" on a scale between 3 to 30, wherein higher grades indicate higher quality. Again, it is important to note that this grading system is highly subjective and varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. The best way to determine quality is to look for consistency in the weave and coloring as well as the number of "waves" or lines present per inch (WPI). Finer and tighter weaves (i.e., higher WPIs/grades) require finer individual straw filaments and more of them - resulting in a more supple and flexible hat body. 

The greater the WPI and/or grade of the Panama Hat, the greater the skill of the artisan and time invested in its creation, both of which are reflected in the hat's final price. (Secondary factors such as brand and trim may further influence a style's price.) All of this to say: each and every Panama Hat is a handcrafted, unique piece of wearable art - a product of artisanal knowledge and skill transmitted across time. No two hats - even within the same brand and style - will ever be exactly the same. This is the allure of genuine Panama Hats. 

Find your next Panama Hat at Village Hat Shop! We have over 100 styles from top brands like Bailey, Stetson, and Bigalli as well as Village Hat Shop-exclusive Hats Montecristi styles that are 100% handcrafted, blocked, and finished directly in Ecuador. Whether you're looking for a Panama Straw Fedora, Outback, Women's, or Finished in the USA style, we have just the hat for you - shop today!

Additional reading from our Hat Blogs: Iconic Hats: The Panama Hat, Panama Hats: Determining Quality

See Also: Straw Hats, Skimmer Hats, Fedora Hats