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Natural materials remain an integral component of creating a straw hat. Depending on a particular brand, the approach to using natural materials may vary significantly, including usage of fibers of raffia, palm, and toquilla straws as raw materials for crafting light and airy headgear. That said, the primary advantage of such brands is their approach to choosing materials and designing techniques used to create their goods. Only top-quality items can be expected from such brands; hence they should be considered when purchasing not only aesthetic, but also functional straw hats.
Now let us review some of the most popular brands of straw hats in the USA.
This brand pays attention not only to aesthetics of its materials, but to practical aspects of usage.They consider each material as fiber with specific qualities, thus helping customers understand how the hat will be changing with time.
The construction method itself allows preserving the integrity of hats while allowing them to bend properly without losing their structure. Choosing materials is another key feature of the company, since they use lightweight and breathable fibers for creating their hats. Naturally, it plays an important role if you want to wear hats during hot summer days outdoors.
As for versatility, there is no doubt that this brand can offer various kinds of models, from wide-brimmed sun protection hats and slim silhouettes to match your summer clothing to stylish yet functional travel hats.
Lastly, consistency is one of the biggest strengths of American Hat Makers: they manage to create hats with durable construction that performs perfectly throughout the season.
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This company focuses primarily on heritage and hand-woven straw hats. If you are looking for such items, it is worth checking out the collection of this company, as they feature some great models. Their straw hats are crafted of tightly woven natural fibers, thus becoming more structured, smooth, and sophisticated. In other words, these models are rather good for wearing on more special occasions in summer. Yet another advantage of this company is craftsmanship and long-term durability of their hats.
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Sustainability-focused fashion brand, as mentioned above, cares about all the nuances regarding manufacturing process, materials used and their impact on the environment. In this respect, they create hats from handwoven natural straw fibers that allow perfect breathability, lightweightness, and great sun protection. If we speak about styling features, all the models of hats created by Will & Bear will serve you well and are rather versatile, allowing you to match different items of summer clothing.
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True to its name, Lack of Color pays much attention to the usage of natural materials and their integration with modern designs. Plant fibers such as raffia are used in the production of minimalist hats that have strong structures. Thanks to the usage of natural fibers, the collection is recognizable because of their versatility and possibility to create lighter constructions. Therefore, they can be perceived as both strong and easy-to-wear/pack items. The company can be considered a good option for those who want natural materials without relying on the classics.
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Just like the previous brand, Maradji works with natural materials. However, the latter prefers seagrass and palm as the basis of its hats with a traditional shaping. As a result, the final product gets an organic touch since even its small deviation in weave/finish adds to its overall look. Overall, it seems to be a perfect option for summer wear.
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This company has also presented itself well on the market of straw hats. It is focused on offering straw-influenced hats but in terms of functionality rather than fashion. While the latter is absent in its hats, they are known for being breathable, light, protective from the sun, and packable. Sunday Afternoons became popular among customers owing to independent testing that shows the efficiency of its hats in outdoor conditions. Therefore, they might become a reliable companion during trips and hot summer days.
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Finally, the last option on the list is Eric Javits, which combines natural materials with traditional methods of manufacturing. The brand concentrates on the evolution of straw hats and aims to produce more sophisticated and longer-lasting structures than the traditional ones. As for the materials of this type, toquilla straw deserves particular attention since it is characterized by great flexibility and durability and widely used in expensive Panama hats. It could be regarded as a perfect example of what Eric Javits produces.
In general, the main advantage of straw materials consists of their ability to behave properly when exposed to higher temperatures. Thus, compared with artificial fibers, they are more ventilated and contribute to preventing heatstroke. Additionally, they can provide various wearing sensations depending on the specific properties.
To be precise, raffia is softer and more elastic and, therefore, allows the production of lighter constructions, while seagrass and palm fibers are more rigid. It should be noted that this aspect may influence the wearing sensations and the possibility to choose a product based on personal preferences.
There are a few things that should be taken into account when searching for a suitable hat.
First, it must be well balanced in terms of weight and elasticity; second, it should allow ventilation; finally, it should be adaptable to various situations. What makes straw hats popular all the time is the feeling of easiness and effortless they give to customers. People put a hat on knowing for sure that it will provide protection regardless of the circumstances.
An excellent straw hat does not need any accessories or decorations because of the fact that it is perfect on its own. American Hat Makers is one of those companies that are successful in this field because of designing basic products.
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