CARLUDOVICA
The Hatterist would like to introduce you to an ethical brand of Panama hats; CARLUDOVICA. The founder is Jéssica Chávez who was born in the land of the Montecristi hat, the ultimate finest grade panama possible. CARLUDOVICA was created to give the buyer a direct link to the weaver, enabling you to feel the heart and soul behind each hat, which is 100% woven by hand. They are a true work of art, woven by male & female artisans, taught by previous generations with the skills handed down like heirlooms. The process of weaving has remined unchanged for centuries, the weaver must lean their body over a tree trunk allowing them to hang the strands of straw.
On the website each style is listed with the weaving time explained, from the simplest of 8 stitches per inch, that takes 15 days to weave called "Essential". To the finest "De Luxe" hat, with 40 stitches per inch that takes 6 months to weave and is only available by request. The number of stitches and the thickness of the threads are used to define the quality of the hat. The Montecristi is the softest, most pliable and luxurious of all Panama hats.
Jéssica works directly with the artisans. Once the hat is ordered through the CARLUDOVICA website, the weavers begin work, each step of the process is checked by Jéssica to make sure your hat arrives in perfect condition. The idea is that when the Panama Hat reaches the customers hands, they are able to feel the love with which it was created and packaged. The customer also has the opportunity to create their own custom-made design.
Jessica’s career began as a storyteller working was working at “La Televisión”, it was here in 2006 that Jéssica heard that this worldwide renowned Panama hat was in danger of extinction, since the weavers were disappearing. This incredible skill that had been passed down through the generations was becoming a dying art as nobody wanted to weave anymore because the artisans were not paid enough money to cover their basic needs. The team began researching a documentary, which led to a visit to Pile, a small town located south of the Ecuadorian coast in the province of Manabi; where almost all its inhabitants weave the fibres of the toquilla straw, managing to create in an almost mystical ritual, the most famous toquilla hats in the whole world, the Panama Hat. Where life begins every morning, with the smell of freshly roasted coffee and the beauty of a tree, that if treated correctly could become a hat.
There were now only 7 weavers of fine hats, who were and already old, nobody was weaving or learning weave, because this job did not pay enough to live without anguish. This is the harsh reality hidden behind the world-famous Panama hat as the weavers are not the ones who receive the money for these luxury hats.
To stop this artform from becoming extinct they started writing letters to the Cultural Heritage Institute backed by their documentary, asking that this practice be recognized. Eventually years later UNESCO declared the toquilla straw hats as, ‘Intangible Heritage of Humanity’. Weaving schools were created, the youth felt support and hope were restored.
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Meet María Espinal, who has been weaving Panama bodies since she was eight. She is from Pile, a small town located south of the Ecuadorian coast in the province of Manabi.