Straw has long been used by humans for different purposes. In general, straw is a generic term used for dried cornstalks, leaves and fibre plants, which serve as bedding, a source of nutrients for agricultural land or even as animal feed. Straw is also used as fuel or for craft or artistic purposes. These include the weaving of straw, as in the production of straw hats, which are divided up into four main types: Raffia, paper straw, Panama straw and hemp.
Raffia straw is made from the bast fibre of the tropical palm tree. As it is robust yet stretchy, raffia straw is perfectly suited for hat manufacture. Paper straw, also called Toyo, is an artificially produced straw made from wood fibres, which is produced using a special melting process. Paper straw is more tear-resistant and is also stretchy and less sensitive to water. Panama straw, also called toquilla straw, is made from the leaves of the toquilla palm. It is characterised by its high level of flexibility and incomparable light weight.
Another type of straw from which hats are made is hemp with its three sub-categories of Abaca, Sinamay and Sisal. Abaca is extracted from the fibre banana and is particularly kind to the skin and hard-wearing. Sinamay straw is a particularly dimensionally stable yet elegant-looking straw. Sisal, which is created from the leaves of the Agave sisalana, is more refined and lustrous than the other hemp fibres, and is used primarily to create elegant occasion wear hats or hair accessories.
Straw does not require special care. However, a few things should be noted. Straw hats should be protected from moisture to prevent deformation or moulding of the material. In addition, when putting them on, straw hats should not be held at the top but by the sides in order to prevent breakage. If the hat has a fabric lining, this can easily be cleaned using a small amount of cleaning solvent.
Straw is the ideal material for summer hats if you are looking for something particularly lightweight and airy. With the many different types of straw available, straw accessories can be worn both in everyday life and to stylish, upscale events.
