Authentic Panama Hat, how to recognize it?
Start by identifying the center of the hat at the top of the crown, it should feature a rosette-shaped weave that determines whether the Panama Hat is authentic or not.
Indeed, a genuine Panama Hat is handwoven, and this artisanal know-how is even listed as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.
The rosette is actually the very first part to be woven, the true keystone of the hat, and it also determines the fineness of the hat.
The finer this weave, the more meticulous and time-consuming the work was… The price will therefore reflect this, as will the quality!
Origin and Manufacture of a Panama Hat
Do you know where the famous Panama Hat comes from?
From Panama, some might say, Not at all!
The Panama Hat actually comes from Ecuador because it is locally made with young palm shoots or "palm leaves" from Ecuador, and this is done manually (between 6 and 10 months of weaving for some), which is why some Panama Hats can be quite expensive.
There are 3 main types of Panama Hats depending on the weave, which determines its quality: · The Panama Montecristi, the high-end Panama Hat, made in the Montecristi region of Ecuador, where the weaves are the finest
· The Panama Brisa, with a regular weave forming tiny diamonds
· The Panama Cuenca, which features a herringbone weave.
Now you know everything to recognize a Panama Hat!
Now you know everything to recognize a Panama Hat!
Couture
