Roberto

The Roberto is a Fedora Hat medium wing made of Panama Brisa, a weave of simple threads that lends lightness and airiness to the garment. These features give the headgear a particular freshness and a very attractive price/quality ratio. Our artisans process the cappellina, or shapeless semifinished product from Ecuador, using only water vapor and heat.

The hat is made by hand on wooden forms so that it takes the desired shape of the crown (head) and brim. It is handled gently throughout the process so that it maintains the traditional and unmistakable elasticity of panama fibers.

Drying is prolonged and outdoors enhancing the lightness of the headgear. This fedora hat represents the result of this handcrafted process and is made in the color wheat beige. La grosgrain belt is in the color sage green On which the gold metal Doria logo is applied.

Panama hat: the History

The material used for this hat is Panama and has an incredible history. It is a weave of strands of "paja-toquilla," a straw made from the leaves of the Carludovica palmata typical of tropical America. These threads are collected in the towns of Montecristi and Jipijapa by artisans scattered in small villages and then marketed as weaves in the city of Cuenca.

The tenderest shoots of the plant are washed, boiled, sun-dried and later kept exposed to the night breeze. This process allows for the natural color typical of Panama. The final step is to dye the straw in baths of natural tones, which allows the chaparral to have the desired color.

Panama craftsmanship is done entirely by hand and is an important part of Ecuador's cultural heritage. Its ancient production techniques were recognized in 2012 as an Intangible World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Depending on the type and degree of weaving given to the straw, Panama takes on different designations and qualities. The finest quality can involve up to eight months of manual labor by local weavers.