The Finishing Process

After each Panador Hat™ is woven, it must go through the finishing process. This multi-step process softens the toquilla fibers, and forms the hat into that well-known Panama Hat style.

Washing and Bleaching

Each hat is washed, one by one. Some hats are bleached, others are left in their natural state, showing a natural straw coloring. One way is not necessarily preferable to the other in terms or wearability or longevity, it's up to you whether you prefer a whiter hat, or the natural straw color.

Some specialty hats, such as our exclusive Black Panador Hat™, may be dyed.

Sun Dried

Hats are then dried in the sun, then ironed by hand to begin shaping them and give stabilize and stiffen the straw.

Shaping

Each hat is then further shaped with a large mallet, which also softens the fibers and brings out the straw's natural suppleness.

The hat is then blocked and sized. This is rarely done by hand. Instead, a large press is used to give the hat its final form and shape, and each hat must be pressed several times to permanently imprint the shape in the straw.

Few Ecuadorian villages have these blocks and presses. That's one reason why most Panama Hats are made in Cuenca.

Final Touches

Finally, the hat's brim is trimmed and and its edges sewn, and the entire hat is lacquered to insure the hat matains its shape. The very last step is to sew the outer band into place.

A Quality Panama Hat From The Panador Hat Company™

The way a hat is finished is one indication of its quality. The finess of the weave is another. But even the very best superfino weave will quickly lose its shape if improperly finished.

Before purchasing any Panama Hat, make sure you understand how it has been finished, and where. And be assured that some of finest, most beautiful, and most durable Panama Hats are made in Cuenca.