Description
Palmaria is a unique hat, clean in line but with unique style features such as the fraying at the wing tip and the Icon ring. It is a Drop hat with a drop-shaped crown, an icon of Doria 1905. This shape is of American origin, originating in the first two decades of the 1900s and representing an elaboration of more classic shapes such as the Fedora.
The Palmaria hat is made of Panama and is highly crafted. It is worked with the sole aid of water vapour and heat. The hat is made by hand on wooden forms and is handled with care to maintain the typical elasticity of the panama fibres.
In this version, the wing is very large and is made in a very linear way, without the addition of a belt or other details. The fraying of the Panama and the Icon Doria ring are the only decorations and allow the hat to show off its personality.
Panama Hat: History
The material used for this hat is Panama and has an incredible history. It is woven from threads of "paja-toquilla", a straw made from the leaves of the Carludovica palmata plant, typical of tropical America. These threads are collected in the towns of Montecristi and Jipijapa by artisans scattered in small villages and then sold as plaits in the city of Cuenca.
The tenderest shoots of the plant are washed, boiled, dried in the sun and then left to rest in the night breeze. This process produces the natural colour typical of Panama. The final step is to dye the straw in baths of natural tones, allowing the chapel to have the desired colour.
Panama's craftsmanship is completely handmade and is an important part of Ecuador's cultural heritage. Its ancient production techniques were recognised in 2012 as a UNESCO Intangible World Heritage Site. Depending on the type and degree of weaving given to the straw, Panama takes on different names and qualities. The finest quality can involve up to eight months of manual labour by local weavers.
