Milliner of the Year (2021) - LuxLife Global Excellence Awards MILLINER OF THE YEAR (2021) - LuxLife, Global Excellence Awards

The Panama Hat Guy Advice

How to stretch a hat without a stretcher

How to stretch a hat without a stretcher

Sometimes you are away on adventures and your hat shrinks - because of rain, sun, misuse etc. There is an old way of stretching them that will get you out of a pickle.

Place it over your knee and give it a hard pull. Make sure your Panama is soft and moist and it will just stretch. It is an old trick that people have been using for hundreds of years.

Have a look here :

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Buying your first hat?

Buying your first hat?

There comes a time in everyone's life when they need a hat. For some people this has been avoided for one reason or another. Maybe they think they don't look good in hats, maybe it feels weird or perhaps it is just some traumatic experience that has kept you away.

Either way, it helps to have someone to talk to when choosing your first hat.

Ask the Panama Hat guy!

 

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How we ship Panama hats

How we ship Panama hats

For the past 15 years we have been shipping our Panamas all over the world. In the process we have become very good at it -

* getting the sizing right & double checking

* packaging for rough postal services (ie USA & Africa)

* helping with styling and choosing the right hat

Have a look here and see how we do it.

 

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Cheap tourist Panama hats, and how to avoid them

Cheap tourist Panama hats, and how to avoid them

When I first arrived in Ecuador in 2007, and bought a new Panama and was terribly disappointed. Within a week it had shrunk and no longer fitted. The brim was all wonky and fraying, and I was bewildered as to why all this was all happening.

I had collected Panamas for decades, but somehow these beautiful hats had fallen into disarray. I assumed it was the quality, so I bought a fino version, but the same thing happened.

Later that year a weaver told me why - all the best Panamas get exported, which is exactly what I was doing. There is a lot of engineering and design that goes into making a beautiful Panama that last and always looks good. Learn how this is done:

 

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Which hat will look good on you?

Which hat will look good on you?

Sometimes it's hard to know which is the right hat for you. After fitting tens of thousands of hats, I have a pretty good idea of what will work.

You can get lost in face shapes, builds, style, noses and an endless array of variables. Or just give me the chance to show my skills - submit this form and all will become clear.

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Why do Panama hats shrink?

Why do Panama hats shrink?
It is common for people to walk into our stores wearing a Panama hat that is too small for them. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it looks funny and blows off in the wind. Unlike shoes, your Panama will shrink, and never stretch without substantial effort. Continue reading

Why does a Panama cost more?

Why does a Panama cost more?
Because they are made completely by hand. Everything else in our world is made by machines and factories, but the best best summer hats can only be made by a real person. Despite the onslaught of industrialisation, they still outperform everything a machine can make. It is our heritage, and a great art form. Continue reading

Where are Panama hats made?

Where are Panama hats made?

They are only made in Ecuador, specifically around Montechristi on the coast, and around Cuenca in the mountains. 

Inferior versions, often using the same straw, are woven in Columbia, Peru, Bolivia and Mexico. They may appear similar, but they are by definition not a Panama hat. In our modern age, any white hat is called a Panama, whether they are made of plastic, paper or felt.

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