Ok, this is a first for me hat store recommendation, but it is unique in every way.  In this day of being “sun conscious,” hats become a major dress factor for the traveling man and woman.  The “in” hat place is The Panama Hat Company of Saint Augustine, Florida. “Located in the heart of the ‘old city,’  at 46 St. Geoge Street,  The Panama Hat Company of St. Augustine is part of San Agustín Import-Export, Inc., a family-owned Florida corporation specializing in Panama Hatsalt. It has been in business since 1985 in St. Augustine, Florida.”

About the owners:
Consuelo Soria Lippi, a native of Ecuador and someone who has a deep

appreciation for the artisans and handcrafts of her homeland, found the company  with her husband Chuck Lippi in 1985 in St. Augustine, Florida. Chuck learned to appreciate Panama Hats over 30 years ago while working in the Peace Corps in Ecuador in a small rural Andean village where many of the men and women spent their free time in the evenings weaving Panama Hats. In 2002 Chuck and Consuelo's son, Tony Lippi, joined the company. Tony brings new skills to the company. In addition to his extensive knowledge of the hat trade, Tony has spent time in Ecuador with hat artisans and has learned how to hand block Montecristi Panama Hats.”   Pictured above is family member, Danny Lippi.

The best Panama Hats are made in Ecuador by a steadily declining number of weavers. The Ecuadorian hats were sold in Panama during the construction of the Panama Canal and the name "Panama Hat" stuck.  “The authentic, soft Panama Hat is made of the leaves of the palm-like plant, Carloduvica palmata, called "toquilla" in Spanish. The plant is found in only a few areas in Latin America and the plants that produce fibers suitable for quality Panama Hats are found in only specialized humid micro-climates along the central Ecuadorian Pacific Coast.
 

The straw is prepared by stripping the fibers from emerging leaf bud of the "toquilla" palm. The finer the fiber thickness, the better the hat quality. A "fino" hat and a "fino fino" Panama Hat have the texture more like linen than straw and will take weeks or months to weave by hand.  They  carry a variety of styles and weaves -- regular, "fino", "fino fino," the extraordinary "fino fino extra fino" and the top of the line and extremely rare "super fino."

In addition to the fine Panama Hats, the store carries the world famous traveler’s line of Tilley hats, and many other brands.  You will find it difficult not to leave without a new hat in your hand when you visit The Panama Hat Company.

www.perfectpanamas.com

Phone 904 829 0032

46 St. George St., St Augustine, Florida

Happy Traveling