- Messages
- 18,936
- Location
- Central California
You weren’t kidding. I’m afraid it’s only after the skills are gone that we’ll realize what we’ve lost.
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Panama Hat Thread
- Thread starter Burma Shave
- Start date
You weren’t kidding. I’m afraid it’s only after the skills are gone that we’ll realize what we’ve lost.
ChicagoWayVito
Practically Family
- Messages
- 699
I had heard a rumor that the large hat companies have been buying up all the hat bodies possible fearing the loss of weavers. I wonder if there is a way to make a donation to the association to help the weavers.
Short Balding Guy
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 9,601
- Location
- Minnesota, USA
Agreed. I hope the market prices can change in order to make retail prices provide a working wage for the talented weavers. A better balance between weavers and finishing revenues is possible if the opportunity for the finishers to sell via the internet could be seized. 25 weavers (down from 100+)remain in the vid's weavers association. Wow, that is not a lot of artisians.
An opportunity does exist for utilizing panama hats as the earth's temps rise. Thanks for sharing the vid.
Cheers, Eric -
ChicagoWayVito
Practically Family
- Messages
- 699
Is anyone familiar with Domingo Caranza?
https://www.domingocarranza.com/
There is some affiliation with a weavers school in Pile, and even has a page to donate. Would love to know that this is legit first.
https://www.domingocarranza.com/
There is some affiliation with a weavers school in Pile, and even has a page to donate. Would love to know that this is legit first.
- Messages
- 18,936
- Location
- Central California
This Brent Black Montecristi Panama arrived a few days ago. It’s two sizes too small for me and the crown is a lot lower than I like.
Bill Hughes
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,126
- Location
- North Texas
I have the same complaint on my Brent Black Plantation. The brim is too short at 3 3/4” at the front pinch.
ChicagoWayVito
Practically Family
- Messages
- 699
Looks like a really good WPI count. How does it feel? It is a bit too bad that the previous owner seems to have abused it slightly. What are your plans for it?
- Messages
- 18,936
- Location
- Central California
Unlike my felt hats, I usually lose a straw hat or two every summer. They blow off into the lake, the get stained, the get crushed…I’m not gentle on straw hats. I’m always looking for another inexpensive semi-disposable straw:
Rmccamey
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 5,665
- Location
- Central Texas
My straw stock is very low as well. I get so caught up in felt hats, I don't keep up with straws until it is well into the summer. So, yep, I need to put some effort into a few good but inexpensive straws, too. Yours there looks very nice, Brent.
Dear Followers of the Panama Hat Thread,
Fyi, Panama Hats Direct is having a February Sale on colorful, crocheted and Cuenca hats. Several followers were talking about picking up cheap hats for summer. I purchased this one earlier this week for $37.50 plus shipping. The quality of the weave doesn't compare to the Montecrisit that I purchased last spring, but it should work well with casual brown outfits this summer. I am looking forward to it's arrival. I realize that there's not much time left, so if you are interested but can't get to it before Monday, message William. Thanks!
Fyi, Panama Hats Direct is having a February Sale on colorful, crocheted and Cuenca hats. Several followers were talking about picking up cheap hats for summer. I purchased this one earlier this week for $37.50 plus shipping. The quality of the weave doesn't compare to the Montecrisit that I purchased last spring, but it should work well with casual brown outfits this summer. I am looking forward to it's arrival. I realize that there's not much time left, so if you are interested but can't get to it before Monday, message William. Thanks!
Attachments
The Hip Hat
New in Town
- Messages
- 3
If anyone is interested, please check our original Panama Hats (weaved in Cuenca as well) at www.thehiphat.com. Inventory is already in the US and shipping will be quicker and cheaper! Support women in business in the US! 
- Messages
- 18,936
- Location
- Central California
If anyone is interested, please check our original Panama Hats (weaved in Cuenca as well) at www.thehiphat.com. Inventory is already in the US and shipping will be quicker and cheaper! Support women in business in the US!
The pricing is sure fair, but only two men’s styles and I don’t care for the blocking. Do you know if the hats are blocked in Ecuador?
It seems with Panama hats there isn’t a middle ground: you get inexpensive hats in styles I don’t personally like much, or you spend a mortgage payment to get a beautifully shaped fine weave hat. The sweet spot for me has been Mike’s offerings at Northwest. I do wish there were more offerings of US blocked hats in classic styles at accessible price.
The Hip Hat
New in Town
- Messages
- 3
Brent, thanks for reaching out. Yes, at the moment we only carry two styles for men and I am sorry you are not a fan of the blocking. The hats are blocked in Ecuador. We are a pretty new enterprise trying, little by little, to gain more market share and promote authentic and original Panama Hats in the U.S. Thanks for checking us out! We truly appreciate it!
- Messages
- 18,936
- Location
- Central California
I’m more of a fan of the Havana blocking, and like a lot of people here I like taller crowns with very little taper. Brent Black or Optimo of Chicago or Montecristi Custom Hat Works of Arizona all offer great styles hats, but the entry price is around $1,000. Panama Hats Direct etc., offer decent styles at fair pricing, but the crowns are still way too low for me and I have to add in the price of having the sweatband replaced as theirs don’t agree with me. I’d gladly pay $200-250 for a decent Panama hat with the shape and proportions I prefer, but it seems the market is either inexpensive semi-disposable hats or upscale prestige hats.
I’m glad to see that you are working to develop your business and I hope you thrive. I’d love me to buy a hat from you if your offerings expand. Best of luck!
The Hip Hat
New in Town
- Messages
- 3
Brent, thank you for the well wishes! I can assure you that our hats are of excellent quality for their sale price. They are certainly not disposable hats and as you are well aware, a lot of time and work go into these beautiful hats. We only wish more people were willing to pay higher prices for higher quality hats, which unfortunately is not the case. We wish you the absolute best finding the hat you are looking for! Please keep visiting us, we might surprise you in a near future. Happy summer!
Please keep visiting us, we might surprise you in a near future. Happy summer!I must admit that The Hip Hat website shows nice looking hats at decent prices. I wish them all the best in getting their business started. Also, I understand what Brent is saying about blocking and looking for a hat with minimal taper. I'm going to see what Panama Hats Direct Plantation crown looks like with a stingy brim in a few days. Still, I have to compliment the service at PHD once again. The communication that William provides is excellent. He sent me this picture of the Cuenca hat that I recently purchased for $37.50 after it received a new hat band and touched up blocking, primarily on the brim. Again, I'm not expecting a Fino Fino Montecristi here. In fact, I'm paying more for shipping than the hat costs. Still, William provided the exact same service to me with this transaction as he did when I purchased a Super Fino Montecristi last spring. That is how to keep customers coming back. I just went to PHD's website and the February sale is still active. I hope everyone is looking forward to sporting their Panama hats soon.
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- Messages
- 18,936
- Location
- Central California
Brent, thank you for the well wishes! I can assure you that our hats are of excellent quality for their sale price. They are certainly not disposable hats and as you are well aware, a lot of time and work go into these beautiful hats. We only wish more people were willing to pay higher prices for higher quality hats, which unfortunately is not the case. We wish you the absolute best finding the hat you are looking for!
I certainly didn’t intend to disparage your hats with a “disposable” designation. I meant that hats in the less than $100 price range can blow off on the lake, get sat on at a BBQ, get thrown into the trunk or treated in a way that I’d never treat a $1,300 Panama hat. I usually go through a couple Panama hats every summer through my neglect or negligence. I have only a couple of Panama hats that I don’t treat hard; those are my dress or special occasion hats.
- Messages
- 18,936
- Location
- Central California
Orvis genuine Panama….a cheap hat, but I like the look. Specs: 3” underwelt brim and the crown is 4 1/4” at the front and 4 5/8” on the sides.
Just following up with a pic of the Cuenca hat that arrived yesterday from PHD. I like the Plantation crown a little better than the Havana crown on the Montecristi I bought from them last year. It’s not a Montecristi, so I’m not going to nitpick the details. However, I can say this was the best $37.50 I spent on a hat! If you’re looking for an inexpensive Panama hat, check out their inventory and March discounts. Thank you, William!
I saw one of these come up on ebay not too long ago for a decent price I was very tempted as it seems like a great daily hat for the summer.
