If the only purpose is sun protection, then regular straw hats provide as much shade as high-end finely woven straw hats. So why do many people still pursue finely woven high-end straw hats? It seems that the head we wear should not be treated casually.
Here, we show the world's most high-end woven straw hats, which are divided into three types: Philippine Abaca hats, golden straw hats, and Panama hats. Although they are all called straw hats, they are actually made of different plants, not real straw. In my opinion, these three materials are the main materials used to make high-end woven straw hats. The abaca used in Philippine hats, as the name suggests, is produced in the Philippines. The abaca fiber variety used to weave hats is usually of F-grade quality, so it is called "F hemp" (F-ma) in the Chinese hat industry. Locals in the Philippines usually call this material "abaka".
Another material is sisal, which is tough and is called "sisal" in English. Toquilla straw, the material used to weave Panama hats, is produced in Ecuador. Coincidentally, all three plant fibers are produced within 10 degrees north of the equator. This may be because the region has sufficient rainfall and the plant fibers are tough, making them suitable for making handicrafts such as straw hats.
