q for panama hat aficionados --

[panamaJess]

I've seen genuine panamas in black and brown lately.
When would you wear a dark panama hat?
Brown
Black

 

[dwebber18]

I'm guessing you could wear it with different clothes than you would a white panama. Or, you could just wear it as a different style of panama for a different look. Just like fur fedoras that come in multiple colors.

 

[Tomasso]

When would you wear a dark panama hat?

At night.

 

[danofarlington]

I've seen genuine panamas in black and brown lately.
When would you wear a dark panama hat?
Brown
Black

Thems are straw hats pard, as opposed to Panama hats, no matter what the headline says. A straw hat in brown or black I might consider, although it might look a little severe. I wouln't buy a real Panama hat (meaning much finer straw weave so it's like a fabric instead of wicker furniture) in a dark color because it isn't traditional, and I don't think it would look right on me. Ladies' hats often come in dark colored straw, another reason I probably wouldn't wear one. Might change my mind though if I saw some men wearing them and it worked.

 

[Rick Blaine]

this is an early 5o's (I think) Knox, so it isn't just a contemporary thing.

 

[Panamabob]

They're big sellers for us, and not so $$$$

 

[Tomasso]

Thems are straw hats pard, as opposed to Panama hats, no matter what the headline says.

But wouldn't a Cuenca made in Ecuador be rightfully called a Panama? [huh]

 

[danofarlington]

But wouldn't a Cuenca made in Ecuador be rightfully called a Panama? [huh]

I believe that is true. So Cuencas and Montecristis are Panamas, but once you get away from them, we're talking about straw hats. Now if you found something else of similar weave to the two above, wherever made, you might also call them Panamas. But I've never heard of hats in fine Panama weave emanating from anywhere else. If Panama Bob saw this exchange, he could clarify it.

 

[Panamabob]

There are fine panama hats in Colombia and Peru (the borders came much later than the hats!).

 

[150719541]

Panama

In Bekal, Campeche, México, there are hat woven there, fine woven, people called also Jipi Japa straw, crushables and white. There are wheat straw, coconut palm straw hats, in Puebla, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Guanajuato, Hidalgo y Michoacán, fine straws and better woven.:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Not-Bogart13]

I've seen genuine panamas in black and brown lately.
When would you wear a dark panama hat?
Brown
Black

I don't have colored panamas, but I do wear black and brown straws. The color on straw makes no real difference in terms of heat, though white and natural are regarded as more "summery." I find that black straw is very useful with grays, blues, black, and excellent with jeans. Sometimes a bright white hat with a black ribbon is just not what you want to wear. [huh]

For example;

 

[EggHead]

I have and prefer the natural straw. I can still smell the grassy, straw "aroma" and it makes me think that it wasn't processed. The colored ones are stiffer too and I am afraid of bending them for the fear of creating a crease.

To fit with various clothing colors, why not have several natural panama hats with different color bands?

 

[EggHead]

Bogart, I like your avatar hat - what is it?

 

[Not-Bogart13]

To fit with various clothing colors, why not have several natural panama hats with different color bands?

I know what you mean, and I've considered it. But there are just times when even natural is just too light. [huh]

Bogart, I like your avatar hat - what is it?

That would be my Penman Last Crusade, 100% beaver. Thank you... and John.

 

[Nik Taylor]

I believe that is true. So Cuencas and Montecristis are Panamas, but once you get away from them, we're talking about straw hats. Now if you found something else of similar weave to the two above, wherever made, you might also call them Panamas. But I've never heard of hats in fine Panama weave emanating from anywhere else. If Panama Bob saw this exchange, he could clarify it.

I do not know what a "Panama weave" is but Claudia Polo claims "100% ... ‘toquilla' straw," and "handmade produced in Ecuador by artisan cooperatives". I beleive the hallmark of the "Panama Hat" is the aforementioned.

 

[panamaJess]

I believe that is true. So Cuencas and Montecristis are Panamas, but once you get away from them, we're talking about straw hats. Now if you found something else of similar weave to the two above, wherever made, you might also call them Panamas. But I've never heard of hats in fine Panama weave emanating from anywhere else. If Panama Bob saw this exchange, he could clarify it.

A Panama hat is a straw hat, but it is made of a specific straw (Carludovica palmata) whose special qualities contribute to the Panama hat's renown.

I would say the type of straw and the weave is how you identify a true Panama hat.

You can't call a hat a Panama unless it's made of Carludovica palmata or "toquilla" straw (as it's called in Spanish). This palm plant is native to Ecuador, and the majority of authentic Panama hat weaving takes place there. Commercial production is concentrated in Cuenca, Ecuador.

The straw is also called "Jipijapa" and is grown in Mexico in small quantities...thus the Panama hats of Bekal, Mexico.

As far as the weave...the tighter the weave, the higher the quality. In my mind Panamas are always handwoven. I'm not sure that it's even possible to machine-weave Toquilla straw.

Usually in a Panama hat the straw is a bleached or natural color, but it's also possible to dye the straw. Thus the brown and black, even pink and purple authentic panama hats.

My original question was when would it be appropriate to wear a fine Panama hat of this color...and I loved Tomasso's reply...

At night.

Brilliant -- now why didn't I think of that?

 

[panamaJess]

At night.

Love it!! See my reply to danofarlington below.

 

[panamaJess]

this is an early 5o's (I think) Knox, so it isn't just a contemporary thing.

Beautiful hat. Thanks for sharing.

 

[panamaJess]

I have and prefer the natural straw. I can still smell the grassy, straw "aroma" and it makes me think that it wasn't processed. The colored ones are stiffer too and I am afraid of bending them for the fear of creating a crease.

Interesting point, thanks for sharing.

 

[zetwal]

I've seen genuine panamas in black and brown lately. When would you wear a dark panama hat?

Side stepping the question of what constitutes a "genuine panama" hat I can answer this way.

For me personally, never. I enjoy the warm and variable color and texture of the natural fiber and have no use for any other color. I don't even like it when the straw is bleached overly white.