Panama Hat Thread

[UnclePete]

Anyone out there with a Stetson Whippet Hemp ?

 

[DRB]

A Montecristi Special Reserve is born. Woven from scratch. It took 12 days from start to hat body camera shot. It's possible the weaver may have been mostly done with the hat when the order was placed. It still needs to be finished with hatband, sweatband, liner, pinch protector. Probably another 12-15 days for shipping after that. This company is moving pretty quickly.

 

[Tukwila]

A Montecristi Special Reserve is born. Woven from scratch. It took 12 days from start to hat body camera shot. It still needs to be finished with hatband, sweatband, liner, pinch protector. Probably another 12-15 days for shipping after that. This company is moving pretty quickly.
View attachment 162266

Is this through Modesto?

 

[psklenar]

Is this through Modesto?

Tukwila, The invoice matches, and is only a few numbers more than, mine from Panama Hats Direct: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/panama-hat-thread.38152/page-202#post-2528319

A Montecristi Special Reserve is born. ...

Which style is that DRB? Classic Fedora?

pat----

 

[DRB]

Is this through Modesto?

Tukwila: Ordered it from Panama Hats Direct.

Pat: It is their classic Fedora. I saw your hat pictures earlier, but I couldn't remember where. Thanks for the link. When do you expect it to arrive? Can't wait to see it!

 

[psklenar]

... When do you expect it to arrive? Can't wait to see it!

DRB, They say it should be at the US distribution point within 12-15 days from the date of shipping from Ecuador, so if they mean "calendar days", it should be in the US tomorrow. If "work days", that would be Friday or next Monday. At that point I should receive a tracking number as it enters the USA shipping networks.

I like the look of your Fedora ... if I ever do a higher end hat from them, I'm pretty sure that's the route I'll go.

pat----

 

[DRB]

DRB, They say it should be at the US distribution point within 12-15 days from the date of shipping from Ecuador, so if they mean "calendar days", it should be in the US tomorrow. If "work days", that would be Friday or next Monday. At that point I should receive a tracking number as it enters the USA shipping networks.

I like the look of your Fedora ... if I ever do a higher end hat from them, I'm pretty sure that's the route I'll go.

pat----

Thank you Sir. Looks good so far. We'll see.

 

[DRB]

A Montecristi Special Reserve is born. Woven from scratch. It took 12 days from start to hat body camera shot. It still needs to be finished with hatband, sweatband, liner, pinch protector. Probably another 12-15 days for shipping after that. This company is moving pretty quickly.
View attachment 162266

Got an email and picture saying the sweatband was just installed.

 

[DanO]

Just got an email this morning from PHD
Spring

Panama hat Offer

20% OFF!

 

[drmaxtejeda]

With your indulgence, gentlemen, allow me to add something about brim finish and brim bindings on Panama hats.

I generally avoid ribbon brim bindings because it adds weight to a fine straw hat that is known for a couple things: (1) lightweight, and (2) an artful, intricate brim weave finish.

I have read that even some of the very best weavers in Pile (the small town outside Montecristi known for the best weavers in the world) have expert brim finishers complete the brims on their masterpieces.

I once saw a miraculous piece of paja toquilla, woven so tight and even it looked more like linen than a straw hat.... But, it had a horrendous brim. The seller was very proud of the weave, and rightly so. But I pointed out that my prospective customers, as well as myself, look for the finished brim to be as nicely finished as the rest of the hat and I would only be able to offer 20-30% of his asking price and - most likely - anyone I knew would cover up that "flaw" with a ribbon brim binding.... and, he could probably get more money from someone who didn't care about this fine point.

Well, he got mad and agreed with me by saying he wouldn't sell me the hat body. Oh well.

Anyway, just a thought for anyone looking for a bound brim. IMHO, a guy should be getting some sort of monetary allowance (read: discount) for a brim that is covered with a ribbon, or folded under and sewn like an underwelt on a felt hat.

You see underwelt/sewn brims on hats in Cuenca like it's just a regular thing. But it's still something I look at for quality v. price considerations.

My last hat from Cuenca was a relatively inexpensive ventilado/semi-calado and it came this way... so, wide straw, loose weave, sewn brim all added up to a good price and a nice, breezy hat. I accept it for what it is, but it's not something I expect to see on a hat costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

.

Gracias, Douglas. I didn't know that.

Sent from my LG-H870 using Tapatalk

 

[psklenar]

Just got an email this morning from PHD
Spring

Panama hat Offer

20% OFF!

Yep. Just note that that's for "Inventory" hats ... ones that are already mostly finished like the one I ordered a couple weeks ago and not for the total custom jobs like the one DRB is having made.

pat----

 

[DRB]

Pat, that's right. It's for the hats that are already woven and in stock. Here is a different hat from them that I ordered last week that was in stock, not custom made. Wish I had waited a week for the sale.
In-stock (at the time) Montecristi Fino Fino:
They recently got finished installing the black 1/2 inch leather band. For reference, they sell this for $325 plus $65 shipping from Ecuador. I have not received the hat yet. Actual pictures of the hat.

 

[Tukwila]

Is $65 what everyone is being charged for shipping from Ecuador? Last time i ordered one, it was $40 through DHL.

 

[psklenar]

Is $65 what everyone is being charged for shipping from Ecuador? Last time i ordered one, it was $40 through DHL.

Mine was/is $29.87 for "standard" shipping. That's where they wait and ship a bunch at once to FL and then once there they are repackaged individually and shipped. That's when I'm to receive a tracking number.

pat----

 

[DRB]

Is $65 what everyone is being charged for shipping from Ecuador? Last time i ordered one, it was $40 through DHL.

From Ecuador. That was for 5-10 day option for the first, more expensive custom, hat. The second, cheaper Fino Fino, hat is being shipped for $46, but that includes the weight of a balsa box that I also purchased. The second hat I am shipping slower at 10-15 days. Hope this helps. Regarding parcels, being retired from the Army as well as the Post Office I know that size matters (and weight).

 

[DRB]

Check with Mike (and Art at VS) to see if they have any grade 10-12 grade Cuenca hats/hat bodies on hand.

You recently got a nice basic Cuenca hat. A true grade 10 or 12 hat would be more of a dress hat to wear out on the town or to a garden party, friendly BBQ, etc., when it's not super hot out.

Remember, a tightly woven hat does not breath as well as a looser weave.... or, my favorite, the ventilated or semi-calado weave hat.

I prefer a wider brim, but grabbed this relatively inexpensive semi-calado when I saw it on a back room shelf at Ortega during our last trip to Ecuador in Dec 2018/Jan 2019. It's about a grade 3 or 4 at best and was relatively cheap, but a breeze blows through it like A/C on your head on hot days. The brim is not finished with a weave, either, as this one has a real basic underwelt to finish off the brim. The hat wasn't finished with a crown ribbon either, so we quickly picked out a navy pug to throw on it. I think it was around $45. Take note, however, the only safe way to ship is through DHL and that runs $40 for one hat....

Seriously, check with Art and Mike to see what they have. I know they can order stuff, too... my goal has been to find weavers I can order from in Cuenca but I have not been as successful as we want. Last I spoke with Mike, he has a place to order from and - I think - both Art and Mike have put in orders together.

.

Tukwila: Beautiful hat! You got a great deal on a remarkable piece of art. Stay cool! I always enjoy reading your posts. I learn something all the time....Dennis

 

[DRB]

I don't remember who posted this about 10 years ago. I thought it was worthy of a second look. Window shopping.
Washington, DC, circa 1919, Hat display, Saks and Co Panama hats, and how they're made, National Photo Company Collection glass negative.

 

[Rosecitymike]

Got an email and picture saying the sweatband was just installed.
View attachment 162364

Very much looking forward to a review of this one.

 

[alanfgag]

Alan: I'm 10 years late but I want to say that is a stunning Optimo Panama! Do you still wear it? Wow!

Haha Dennis... thanks for catching it. This was the first Montecristi hat I purchased. I missed out on the other that ended just before this one. Both sold for less than $50 if memory serves me.

I have purchased perhaps a dozen optimo blocked panamas since. I have a hard time passing on them. Some were cleaner and some finer. I do wear them all over the course of the summer - this one too.

 

[DRB]

1930's optimo panama - rossenized

The straw is in excellent shape with a good amount of patina from age and sweat. Someday I might explore having it cleaned, but right now I'm loving the original condition. It even fits.

weave count is about 700 per square inch.

A bit of exposed natural reed... perhaps an original sweat that was left as a sweat barrier when a replacement was done... or the original construction?

Not sure what happened to my post, but here it is again. Alan posted this hat 10 years ago and I am just getting around to appreciating it. Beautiful hat Alan!