Materials
How to Choose
Your first decision will probably be Panama Straw or Fur Felt. Both were originally designed by our ancestors to protect the wearer from the elements: the Panama Straw from the sun and the Fur Felt from cold, rain, and snow. Your climate and personal needs will guide you to your material choice. Most of us need both!
Although Montecristi Custom Hat Works is world renowned for sourcing the finest hand woven Panama bodies and handcrafting the raw material into beautiful yet functional styles, we equally source the finest Fur Felt manufacturers of raw materials in the world. Whether Fur Felt or Panama Straw, each hat is made one at a time by our master hatters and craftsmen.
Every hat comes with a classic grosgrain ribbon at no extra charge, or with your choice of a signature hat band from our extensive collection.
From Western to Fedora, Ladies Fashion to the timeless styles that transcend to the fashion forward styles of today, your Montecristi Custom Hat Works hat will be a timeless treasure.
Consider the Occasion
Wear occasion is another consideration. Is a dressier look more appropriate? Then shop our many variations on the Classic Fedora (plus a few other hat styles). Do you see yourself in a Western? Our Fur Felt Western hats are designed to look sharp indoors and out — and constructed to protect you from the elements. Our Panama hats with ventilated crown weaves are popular warm-weather choices.
Quality
We grade our Panamas in quality from Fino Select to Super Fino. Our Fur Felts come in two weights, ranging from 30X to 1000X. The better the material, the more expensive the hat.
Panama
In Panama we work in three qualities: Fino Select, Extra Fino, and Super Fino.
Solid weaves are traditional, but we have developed ventilated crowns, some fully ventilated, other not so, but all ventilated weaves offer greater comfort in hot humid climates.
Fur Felt
In fur we offer both Dress Weight (DW) and Western Weight (WW) choices. Dress Weight is thinner, softer, and more supple than Western Weight. Fedora and small frame Western styles work well in Dress Weight. Wider brims and taller crowns require Western weight.
