Your Original Panama hat is a handmade treasure, and unique. Insignificant imperfections in color, weave, and finish, either by nature or the artisan’s hand!We truly believe that you would love to maintain the charming look of your panama hat for many years to come. We recommend you to follow the instructions stated below:
Storing
- When storing your hat, it’s best to use your PURA VIDA hat box. Use the box the hat came in, or invest in ordering one.
- Store your toquilla products in a dry, cool place, away from direct sunlight.
Packing
- 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.
Handling
- Your Panama hat is known for its weave and flexibility and can be formed into whatever shape suits you through hand shaping. For your 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.
Weather to Avoid
- Avoid wearing your Panama hat in the rain, it will withstand light moisture, but a soaking will cause the hat to lose its shape.
- Avoid exposing your Genuine Panama Hat to artificial heat - from stoves, radiators, lamps and car windows.
- Never leave your Genuine Panama Hat in a car on a hot day.
Re-Shaping
- If your hat loses its shape due to heavy rain, to get rid of wrinkles or an unfortunate accident, 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.
- To get rid of wrinkles, iron with steam placing a damp cloth between the iron and the hat.
Cleaning
- 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, in 2 cups of boiling water add a tablespoon of laundry detergent. Immerse a face cloth in this. Wring the face cloth out and wipe the inside and outside of the Genuine Panama Hat. Repeat a couple of times and you should have the cleanest hat.
Do Not
- Let your hat or toquilla straw accessories come in contact with water, as excessive moisture will cause your hat to lose its shape.
- Roll or fold your hat, as this can produce creases, cracks and shape-loss.
