Care
Panama Hats
If you are in love with these pieces of crafts, surely you have asked yourself many times. When you buy a Panama, you know that you are buying a special product, made and woven by hand and that, therefore, it will require a series of specific care.
Due to use, the straw loses its own moisture and, therefore, its flexibility.
This fiber tends to dry out, above all, due to the effects of the sun and the wind.
- When you notice that your hat becomes dry and stiff, apply steam from an iron at a distance. In this way, your hat will gain flexibility and you will notice it less brittle.
- To know if it needs hydration, all you have to do is press the cup or fold the brim carefully. If you notice that it creaks or that it is stiff instead of flexible and soft.
- Too much humidity can be harmful. In humid climates it is advisable to store the hat in a dry place to avoid the appearance of mold.
Handling the hat with dirty hands causes unwanted stains on your hat.
Handling the hat with dirty hands or simply with excess grease on the fingers often causes unwanted stains on your hat.
- Since straw is a fiber very similar to paper, use a white eraser and most of the stains will disappear.
- There are stains that are a little more difficult to remove, in these cases try to remove it with a soft sponge moistened with water and coconut soap. If this does not work, it is best to take it to an expert hatter for a diagnosis of the possible repair.
How to keep its original shape.
1. Do not press the cup with your fingers. If you clamp your fingers in the area of the cup every time you take off and put on your panama, it may sooner or later break and frost, since it is the most delicate area of the hat. Therefore, the ideal is to put it on and take it off either by grasping it by the brim or by manipulating it by the crown with delicacy, subtlety and softness.
Store your hat correctly.
1. Use a hat box with the appropriate size to store and protect it. With it, you will prevent the hat from being hit and deformed or broken by the pressure of other objects.
Care
Alpaca Clothes
BEFORE YOU START YOU MUST KNOW:
- The best way to preserve your garment is by hand washing. To prevent your garment from shrinking or fluffing, avoid contact with hot water and avoid wringing or drying the garment by squeezing it.
- The proper temperature for washing your alpaca garment is 85º F maximum.
- If you want to maintain the color and quality of your garment, avoid both the use of the washing machine and any bleach.
- To preserve the original color of your garment, avoid drying it by exposing it directly to the sun, dry it in the shade.
PROCEDURE FOR ALPACA CLOTHES:
- Prepare a clean sink or hand basin, if you do not have a sink or laundry tub at home.
- Fill with lukewarm water (never too cold or too hot).
- Pour in some baby shampoo or delicate laundry cleaners and stir to make some lather.
- Submerge the garment and rub gently without twisting or pinching the fabric, only with the intention of loosening dirt.
- Repeat the procedure several times, especially in the dirtiest areas, cuffs and collars for example, and rinse by adding plenty of water, filling our container again with clean water and doing the same operation, now without soap.
GARMENTS MADE OF ALPACA:
- Leave the garment on a horizontal surface so that the excess water drains off, then we put a dry towel well extended (horizontally) and on top we also put the garment extended. Then we begin to roll the towel (like rolling tobacco), with a little pressure so that more water comes out. Finally unroll delicately.
- Now and aided by another dry towel, spread and put the garment on it to dry, do not forget to turn it to dry evenly on both sides. NEVER HANG the garment, it will loseall ofits shape.
- Alpaca wool is a very sensitivefiber,this type of garment should not be ironed. If it is necessary to avoid direct contact of the iron with the garment, use a towel on top to protect it.
- Make sure your garment is completely dry before storing. Always fold and store them carefully to avoid wrinkles.
- In some climates, moths can be a problem for your garment. If this is the case, store your alpaca garments in plastic garment bags, inserting small lavender bags can be useful. The use of naphthalene is not recommended.
Care
Wool Hats
- Store your fedora in a covered hat box or on a covered head form to prevent dust from settling onto the hat. Store upside down to prevent the brim from becoming misshapen.
- If you must pack your hat during traveling, stuff the crown with clean socks or soft underwear. Create a hat-sized nest inside the suitcase and place the hat, crown down, into the nest making sure the brim is not creased.
- To help preserve the shape of a fedora, always grasp it by the brim. Make sure your hands are as clean as possible each time you touch the hat. Even with clean hands, the oils from your fingertips can discolor the felt of your hat over time. If you handle a fedora by the pinch of the crown (the pinch is the part of the hat where all of the fabric comes together to create a point), this can create a rip in the fabric, or cause the pinch to become asymmetrical.
- If your hat gets crushed, place it on a hat form or over a rounded jar. Use a handheld clothing steamer or hold over a kettle of boiling water to steam the hat until slightly damp. Reshape the hat to the original condition and allow to air dry away from direct heat.
- If you decide that your felt hat needs to be dyed to refresh the color or you’d like to change the color, contact a professional dry cleaner that specializes in the care of leather and/or offers dyeing services.
