Montecristi Panama Hats of Napa Valley

6525 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599 (707) 944-2870

Taking Care of your Toquilla Straw Hat

A genuine Panama hat is a handmade treasure, and no two hats are alike. Slight imperfections in color, weave, and finish – either by nature or the artisan’s hand – make it unique! We want you to be pleased with your purchase for many years to come. Your Panama hat will continue to look like new if you follow the basic care instructions we recommend below.

Handling

Your authentic Panama hat is known for its weave and flexibility and can be formed into whatever shape suits you through hand shaping. For you hat to maintain its original shape, pick up or handle your Panama hat by the brim, or by cupping the crown with an open palm. NEVER PINCH IT BY THE CROWN. When resting your hat on a flat surface, place it facing up (crown down) to maintain brim shape. And most styles of authentic toquilla Panama hats should never be rolled. If you choose to roll your hat do not leave it rolled or folded for long periods of time as this promotes cracking.

Lastly, avoid wearing your straw Panama hat in the rain. Toquilla straw will withstand light moisture, but a soaking will cause the hat to lose its shape.

Reshaping

If your hat loses its shape due to heavy rain or an unfortunate mishap (it happens!), try to reshape it a couple of different ways. Hold the hat in steam over boiling water and mold the hat back into shape. A blow dryer – on a low heat setting – can be used to dry the hat as you are reforming its shape. To reshape the brim, use an iron – again, on low heat setting – to give it just the right bend.

Cleaning

Panama hats are easy to clean. Wipe down the hat with a soft, lint-free, tightly-woven cloth (to prevent catching or snagging). You may also try a moist facial or baby wipe. If your hat still isn't as clean as you’d like, a small amount of mild soap and water should do the trick.

Storage

When storing your hat, it’s best to use a hat box. Use the box the hat came in, or invest in a new one. If you own several Panama hats, do not stack them or store them on top of one another. If you must stack them, place the smallest hat on a base that will lift the hat and support it by the crown, then stack bigger hats on top ensuring that the brims of the lower hats are not weighted down and misshapen.

Hat Detailing

If you’d rather not clean your Panama hat yourself, we offer hat detailing services to our customers including steaming, reshaping, band changes, and light cleaning. For more information, contact us at panamahatsco@gmail.com