Montecristi Panama Hats
THE ART OF HANDMADE MONTECRISTI PANAMA HATS
These extraordinary hats are handcrafted by artisans in Ecuador from toquilla straw. This straw is hand-split into strands not much thicker than thread, and woven so finely that the Panama hats appear to be made from linen.
Each Panama hat is woven by a single artisan, hand-blocked, and takes months to complete. All the straw hats in this collection come from local artisans in Cuenca and the small village of Montecristi, internationally renowned for the high-quality weaving of its Panama hats.
SOURCING MONTECRISTI PANAMA HATS FROM HOMERO ORTEGA
These hats are sourced from the famous Homero Ortega, a 40-year-old family-owned business that has contributed to the fame of the Panama hat and its place in the world by being the first company in Ecuador to export these beautiful hats worldwide.
Homero Ortega is fully respectful of the environment, using only biodegradable materials in both the crafting and finishing of its hats. Montecristi means the highest standard in the Panama straw hat trade. These hats take longer to weave, require a lot of patience and expertise, and are harder to find.
THE MEANING BEHIND MONTECRISTI: THE HIGHEST STANDARD IN PANAMA HATS
The quality of a Montecristi Hat is measured by various factors such as the fineness of its weave and the rows in its crow which vary greatly according to the straw chosen. Another very important factor is the expertise of the weaver and the time spent crafting the hat.
These hats are graded into 6 different categories: Fine, Fine Fine, Extra Fine, Super Fine, Supreme, and Museum Quality.
The artisans can weave for three to four hours per day due to the arduous nature of this work. Every time the width of the straw is reduced by half, the amount of work is multiplied by four. This is why a hat twice as fine takes four times as long to weave and costs significantly more.
Alpaca Collections is proud to showcase fine handmade Montecristi Panama Hats that make an amazing addition to every refined wardrobe.
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