What makes Barrancospanamahats.com
different?
Its simple. If buyers want to deal direct with a panama hat factory that offerers many different grades and styles Barranco's panama hat factory is the solution. Our factory is based in Cuenca, Ecuador and we have been exporting worldwide since 1942.
Its our job to post interesting panama hats to make your search painless and exciting by receiving a hat no one else has in the world because each woven panama hat are completed in different patterns from 1 of the 3,000 weavers from the city!
Does the factory wholesale panama hats?
Yes, we do. To see our current wholesale styles and prices please register as a wholesale user first
What are panama hats made of?
All genuine panama hats are hand woven using organic fibers (Paja Toquilla Straw) which are only found in Ecuador and no where else in the world does it grow naturally.
The toquilla straw comes from a variety of palm tree that provides excellent breath ability that no other organic material can match.
Why are they called panama hats?
Although the hats are only made in Ecuador, they were sent to Panama City for export as that was the hub for shipping in the early 1900's. Back then, Panama city, was the perfect distribution point because it allowed quick access into North America and Pacific or Atlantic ocean shipping traffic.
For more information please refer "the panama hat trail" by Tom Miller or Wikipedia for information about this type of artisan product.
Why is a cuenca weave recommended over a brisa weave?
When it comes to durability a cuenca weave is tighter weave and for the customer it is less work to fix the brim as it is stiffer and thicker than a brisa weave.
The amount of paja straw used to make a brisa weave is quite less than a cuenca weave. With less paja fibers used there is more wholes in the hat.
We list only cuenca woven panama hats on our factory website.
Is credit card processing secure on your Website?
Yes, you can shop at BarrancosPanamaHats.com with confidence. We have partnered with Authorize.Net, a leading payment gateway since 1996, to accept credit cards and electronic check payments safely and securely for our customers.
The Authorize.Net Payment Gateway manages the complex routing of sensitive customer information through the electronic check and credit card processing networks. See an online payments diagram to see how it works.
The company adheres to strict industry standards for payment processing, including:
How to make an order with your factory online?
Because you deal direct with our factory, you will be updated throughout the different stages in the process of your order(s) until it’s delivered to your door. Here are the following steps how customers complete a order:
Step 1: Complete the three steps of checking-out your order (shipping information, billing information, and confirmation). After confirming the order you will receive a confirmation email of your order. The factory officer will now review the order by posting the estimated deliver date and shipping cost in the approval email.
Step2: With a approval from our factory officer you will receive a approval email confirming the total price including the hat(s) price and shipping cost plus the estimated shipping date. If you agree payment is now needed as follows:
How are panama hats graded?
In the panama hat industry there are two different systems used. The first method is putting the grades into four major categories (Standard, Semi-fino, Fino, and Super fino).
The second method is the number system starting at 1-25. The higher the grade number the finer the weave or stitch count will be.
I am curious what is the difference between the grades semi-fino and fino?
Good question. The best way to answer this question is to compare two bottles of wine that both taste good but one is aged longer and priced more. To new panama hat fans a semi-fino panama hat will look the same as a fino grade. However a fino grade is finer and takes the weaver in Ecuador longer to finish.
Ordering panama hats from Barrancospanamahats.com is direct from our factory to your door?
All of our panama hats are woven, designed and tailored to suit all international orders from our Panama Hat Factory in Cuenca, Ecuador where 98% of panama are exported.
How can l track my order?
Once your order has passed thorough your countries custom officials it will be delivered by your national mail carrier.
Using the same tracking code provided you can use it as well to track where the order is once inside your country.
For example:
USA: United States Postal System
UK: Royal Mail
To track inside in of Ecuador - Enter your tracking number. Here you will see when the order left Ecuador to you.
If your tracking number is not showing up with your national mail carrier its because the order is still in transit.
Why is shipping a panama hat expensive from Ecuador?
When we ship a panama hat we do not roll it up and put it in a small box. Some panama hat sellers do, do this to offer cheap shipping prices. But the problem is a panama hat rolled up in a box for 2 weeks may miss-sharpen the panama hat and make it hard for the customer to get the brim back to shape.
When we ship our panama hats we do not rolled them up but in good size box which the panama hat(s) do not lose their shape. This is done so the panama hat comes in great form when your receive it. In the case for shipping we are paying for volume not weight as the prices charged is the prices direct from Ecuadorian mail carrier.
Does your factory ship worldwide?
Yes, we do ship world wide. If your country is not in the list when imputing your shipping instructions please contact our sales support team to solve this issue.
What are the shipping costs?
-Correros Del Ecuador has now posted new prices for 2012. Yes and of course the prices have went up.
-The factory ships using Ecuadorian government mail system which has standard air and express shipping
-By default all orders are priced in standard shipping, otherwise state express shipping in comment field at check out
- The factory does not ship using FedEx or UPS because it is to expensive. If you would like to ship by FedEx please provide FedEx account number in comment field at checkout
-Shipping cost one box 1-4 hats is $32*. 15 days to USA/Canada. Transport time 15 days
-Shipping cost one box 1-3 hats is $32*. 2-3 weeks to Europe and Australia
-With each order a tracking number is provided via email to customer
-Express shipping is available and please indicate this in the comment box at checkout of your order. Express or EMS is generally double the price and allot faster.
How much work is put into making a panama hat?
Technically a panama hat can take from start to finish one to three months. The paja fibers are native and grown naturally along the western coastal range of Ecuador.
On the coast these paja fibers are prepared and then bundled and shipped to public markets for native weavers to buy and use to weave a panama hat.
How can l roll my panama hat?
No, Panama hats are water resistant but not waterproof. It is not recommended to wear a true panama hat in the rain. No, Panama hats are water resistant but not waterproof. It is not recommended to wear a true panama hat in the rain.
Why choose a genuine panama hat over replicas.
That's a good question. There are many straw hats available made in different countries, but none compare to the quality of a panama hat from Ecuador. The fibers of the straw provide excellent breath ability in hot and humid conditions as well as durability. A panama hat can last indefinitely if looked after properly.
Finally a panama is a status symbol around the world A few examples of famous people who have worn them is Frank Sinatra, Winston Churchill,Teddy Roosevelt and dates back to Napoleon.
Where is the factory based?
Since 1942 our factory has been based in Cuecna, Ecuador.
What currency is used if l would like to make a order?
All prices are listed in United States Dollars. If your currency is different your credit card will do the conversion no problem.
