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Straw hat style guide

It can be tough to choose among the many distinctive silhouettes. Start with the one that seems best suited to your everyday style, or that fits a special occasion.

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Western

These iconic American styles are built for utility. Wider brims and vented crowns provide cool comfort in the heart.

Shop Straw Western
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Open Road

East meets West in these versatile styles, equal parts cowboy and gentlemen. A staple of LBJ's signature look, they have attained legendary status.

Shop Straw Open Road
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Fedora

A bit dressier, with an updated retro presence that's at home in the city. Defined by the pinch-front crown and shorter brim that can be turned up or down.

Shop Straw Fedora
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Outdoor

Sturdy and lightweight, these emphasize function but not at the expense of adventurous details like colorful bands and ventilation eyelets.

Shop Straw Outdoor
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Dress

For a truly authentic look, choose a hat that reinforces your personal style. These hats add a dressy touch to the everyday.

Shop Straw Dress

The Process

Take a look behind the scenes to see how our hats evolve from raw materials to prime example of fine craftsmanship.

1. STRAW PREP

Once the straw is selected, it undergoes a variety of steps, including stripping, washing, cooking, dyeing and drying.

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2. Weaving

After being sent in bundles to the weavers, the straw is woven with different artisanal technique. Some are done entirely by hand, Others make use of wooden blocks, cone molds and simple looms. The most complex weaven can take months.

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3. Shaping

Once they have passed quality inspection, all the hats are sent to our factory in Garland, Texas, to be blocked into a shape, stiffened or treated, according to each style.

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4. Finishing

We use a variety of different materials, according to traditional styles and artisanal techniques—all of them chosen for comfort and endurance.

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Types of straw

We use a variety of different materials according to traditional style and artisanal techniques- all of them chosen for comfort and endurance.

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Toquilla

Made from the braided leaves of a palm-like plant native to Ecuador, toquilla is the flexible straw traditionally used in lightweight, breathable panama hats.

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Shantung

This featherweight material is actually made from resilient, plant-based paper that is rolled into a straw-like form. it is extremely light and durable, comparable to toquilla.

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Palm

Dried palm fronds are split to from delicate yet robust straw. This is hand-braided into fine, tight bands that form the core structures of our palm braid hats.

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Bangora

Like shantung, this is made from a plant-based paper that is given a straw-like form and woven in a perpendicular pattern sometimes referred to as Bangkok weave.

Straw hat care

The perfomance and longevity of your hat depends on a few simple steps.

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Handling Your Hat

To put on or remove your straw hat, lightly hold the front of the hat, the sturdiest part where the crown meets the brim. Handling by the brim may warp and twist the brim over time, giving it an uneven look. You can also gently put on and take off your hat by the top of the crown. Don't grab it too tightly, or you might crack the straw.

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Heat Exposure

Avoid exposing your hat to the heat from stoves, radiators, lamps, car windows and enclosed cars in the summer. The combination of the heat and perspiration can shrink the sweatband.

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Storage

Store your straw hat upside down on its crown, on a clean surface or in a box. This helps protect the shape of the brim.

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Cleaning

Start by gently brushing away dirt and debris. Once most of the dirt and dust is off, use a damp cloth to wipe down the straw. Lightly spot-test first in an inconspicuous area. Be sure to dry the hat at room temperature.