PANAMA HATS

A genuine Panama hat is hand-woven from toquilla straw and is handmade in Ecuador by master artisans.  The hat making process takes significant time, talent and precision, which is why a genuine and well-made Panama hat costs significantly more than other types of straw hats.  With proper care, your Panama hat should­­­­ maintain its shape and form for many years.

We recommend the following care instructions to preserve its quality and condition:

WEARING

It is important your Panama hat is not repeatedly pinched at the crown, as this may break the fibers. Gently grasp the hat from the top with one hand or from the brim with two hands.

MAINTAINING

Brush your hat with a soft bristled brush periodically, gently removing dust or dirt, to preserve its appearance.

CLEANING

Makeup removing cleansing towelettes work great to remove surface smudges.   For stubborn debris, you can gently wipe your hat with a lightly dampened white cloth and light soapy water, then wipe dry.   Be careful to not over moisten the area, as this could damage the straw.

STORING

Natural fibers are prone to creasing, so make sure to always store your hat on a flat surface, to avoid unwanted folding and curling of the brim.   Also, keep away from direct sunlight to avoid sun damage and over drying.

Do not store your hat in your car, the exposure to prolonged sunlight and heat may discolor and distort the shape.

ON A SHELF

When storing on a shelf, rest your hat on its brim, not upside down on its crown. Storing your hat on your crown for an extended period of time can cause the brim shape to change.

ON THE WALL

Hanging your hat on a hat wall is always a fun way to decorate your space. If you use a nail or a hook, please ensure the tip is soft, or covered with fabric or foam, so the hat is not damaged.

IN A HAT BOX

A hat box is the best way to store a hat for long term care.  Store the box in a cool dry place. Wool hats can be stored in plastic bags to protect them from dust and debris, however we strongly recommend Panama straw hats are not placed in a plastic bag, as this can dry the straw, causing the straw to become brittle and break. Ninakuru hats are made from natural materials and may change color and shape if exposed to long periods of heat and moisture.

KEEP IT DRY

Panama hats are not meant for wet or rainy conditions, as moisture will cause the hat to lose its shape. In the event your hat gets wet, leave the hat indoors on a flat and dry surface until it has completely dried.   Panama hats are made from natural fibers and are sensitive to excessive humidity.   If your hat has been stored in humid conditions, you may find it fitting a little more snugly the next time you reach for it.    If this should happen, we recommend you simply wear your hat for a couple hours, as the fibers will naturally shape to your size once again with your own body heat.

AVOID PROLONGED HEAT AND EXCESSIVE SUN EXPOSURE

Although Panama hats are designed to be worn in warm and hot weather, they do require a little extra care in excessively hot and dry climates and if they are repeatedly exposed to direct and intense sunlight.    Such excessively hot and dry conditions will cause the hat to crack or fray prematurely.

RETAINING ITS SHAPE

While Panama hats are flexible, they are not meant to be folded, crushed or rolled in a bag or suitcase. Do not place heavy objects on the surface of the hat, especially the crown.  Though creased or curled brims can usually be flattened with an iron (see below), the crown cannot be fixed as easily, and if crushed may require it to be professionally re-shaped and pressed.

RESHAPING THE BRIM

If you wish to reshape or remove small wrinkles from the brim of the hat, iron at a medium setting, placing a protective cloth over the brim to avoid burning the hat.  Delicately reshape the brim with your hands.   Avoid tugging and pulling the brim, as this will eventually loosen the fibers and cause your hat to fray over time.

WOOL HATS

Ninakuru wool hats are 100% handmade in the Andean highlands of Ecuador. Once hats have been blocked, they are shipped to our design studio in Ojai, California, where they are formed, shaped, individually styled and finished.  All Ninakuru wool hats are created using premium Argentinian and Uruguayan wools.

Though our products are made to stand the test of time, we recommend the following care instructions keep your hat looking its best:

MAINTAINING

Brush your hat with a soft bristled brush periodically – preferably a brush made with horse hair bristles – to remove dust, dirt and lint.   A lint roller also does a great job of removing dust and debris.

CLEANING

Most surface debris can be wiped clean using a dampened white cloth or clean sponge using filtered or purified water.  Do not use a cloth with dye, as the dye may transfer to the hat. For stubborn stains, try using a little steam to loosen debris first.  A soft bristled brush, brushed in small circular motions, or lint roller to clean off hair or dust, does wonders to enhance the look of the fibers.

For more severe stains, we suggest taking your hat to a local hat repair shop to have it professionally cleaned.

STORING

To avoid unwanted folding and curling of the brim, we recommend storing your hat on a flat surface.  Ninakuru hats are made from natural materials and may change color and shape if exposed to long periods of heat and moisture.  Also, keep the hat away from direct sunlight to avoid sun damage and over drying.

Do not store your hat in your car, the exposure to prolonged sunlight and heat may discolor and distort the shape.

ON A SHELF

When storing on a shelf, rest your hat on its brim, not upside down on its crown. Storing your hat on your crown for an extended period of time can cause the brim shape to change.

ON THE WALL

Hanging your hat on a hat wall is always a fun way to decorate your space. If you use a nail or a hook, please ensure the tip is soft, or covered with fabric or foam, so the hat is not damaged.

IN A HAT BOX

A hat box is the best way to store a hat for long term care. Store the box in a cool dry place. Wool hats can also be stored in plastic bags to protect them from dust, debris and moths.  Moth larvae are known to feed off wool fiber and could leave visible scares on the surface of your hat, if your hat is exposed.

KEEP IT DRY

Our hats are treated to repel light moisture, however we do not recommend wearing your hat in prolonged wet or rainy conditions as this could affect the shape of the hat. In the event your hat gets wet, leave the hat indoors on a flat surface until it has dried and gently reshape as necessary. Do not blow dry it.

RETAINING ITS SHAPE

While wool hats are flexible, they are not meant to be folded, crushed or rolled in a bag or suitcase. Do not place heavy objects on the surface of the hat, especially the crown. If the crown or brim needs to be reshaped, use steam to reshape as necessary.

RESHAPING

Our wool hats can be shaped and re-shaped to your preference.  If the crown or brim needs to be re-shaped, apply steam to targeted area and use your hands to shape and mold it to your liking. If you wish to reshape or remove small wrinkles from the brim of the hat, iron at a medium setting, placing a protective cloth over the brim to avoid burning the hat.  Delicately reshape the brim with your hands.

To stiffen or flatten the brim, iron the brim on a flat surface on medium heat and apply steam.  If any part of your hat feels too stiff, gently fold and massage rigid areas until fibers feel soft and flexible.    You can easily add waves and movement to the hat brim by applying steam to targeted area and gently shaping the brim with your hands until you achieve the desired look.  Several steam applications may be necessary.

Once you get the look you want, allow hat to dry.  Once the hat is dry, it will maintain the form it was given.  This process may be repeated as needed.

LEATHER BAGS

Our vegetable tanned leather bags can last a lifetime, yet as they are not treated with synthetic chemicals, slight color variations, in addition to surface textures, may slightly modify the look of your bag over time, as is common with all vegetable tanned leather goods.

Your Ninakuru leather bag will wear beautifully and take on the environment to which it is exposed, which we feel is a wonderful characteristic of all naturally made products.  To maximize its life, use cleaners or conditioners which are created for use with vegetable tanned leather.  We also suggest taking your bag to a professional leather repair shop for occasional maintenance to further maximize its life and beauty.

WOVEN BAGS

Our ethically sourced, sustainably made woven bags can last a lifetime, yet as they are not treated with synthetic chemicals, surface textures, and slight color variations in the dyes – which are made from organic rainforest botanicals – may slightly modify the look of your bag over time, as is common with many handwoven goods.

Your Ninakuru woven bag will wear beautifully and take on the environment to which it is exposed, which we feel is a wonderful characteristic of all naturally made products.  To remove dirt residue from your bag, use a damp cloth.  To maximize the life of the vegetable tanned leather straps and/or pockets, use cleaners or conditioners which are created for use with vegetable tanned leather.  We also suggest taking your bag to a professional leather repair shop for occasional maintenance to further maximize its life and beauty.