Production process
The process of making a genuine, handmade Panama hat involves many steps and takes a long time. This is a summary of the main steps behind the creation of these beautiful, unique pieces.
1. It all starts with our weavers. They take the dried paja toquilla and weave it into raw pieces (sometimes called "hoods"), in the grade or pattern needed.
The weaving process can take between 8 to 12 hours per piece. For finer grade hats, it can take up to 2 months per piece.
3. Once the raw pieces have been dyed, processed, and cleaned, they are pressed to give them the desired shape.
2. The raw pieces are then dyed and left to dry in the open air. This process takes one to two weeks, depending on the weather, as we avoid using gas to be more environmentally friendly.
4. Lastly, finishing touches are added. We place ribbons, sweatbands, labels, and conduct individual quality control on each piece. The hats are then ready to be packed and shipped around the world.