Our Artisans
COMMITMENT TO ARTISANAL TRADITION
It is important to note that the founding partners or promoters of this brand come from a family of artisans, giving them a deep understanding of the real value and effort behind craftsmanship. Their connection to artisanal roots allows them to appreciate and respect the tradition behind each Panama Hat, demonstrating that they are not just traders but guardians of an invaluable cultural heritage. This family heritage drives their unwavering commitment to the preservation and promotion of traditional craftsmanship, ensuring that each hat conveys the authenticity and passion rooted in Ecuador's artisanal history.
ARTISAN HAT
It is hand-woven by Ecuadorian artisans. These men and women possess unique ancestral knowledge that has been passed down from generation to generation and have perfected their technique that is impossible to manufacture industrially.
All the process from start to finish we do it by hand, either with the use of our hands or using hand tools. This gives a great intangible value to the hat, because as it is not an industrial product, each hat is different from another, although it may not seem so at first glance.
Each phase of production is a unique job that requires skilled craftsmen in that stage, artisan work is not easy, it requires dedication, patience and above all love for what is done.
This activity is the main source of many families in our Ecuador, so our main responsibility is that their work is reflected in a fair and timely remuneration, in this way guaranteeing sustainable development for our artisans and delivering a quality product. for our customers.
We invite you to meet our artisans:
How do we start?
Step 1. PALM HARVEST
The manufacturing process of a luxurious hat begins with the sowing and subsequent harvesting of the shovel or also called Carludovica Palmata. This is a natural plant native to the coastal region of Ecuador that grows only in this place. This plant after being boiled takes the name of toquilla straw or Lisan.
My name is Senovio Espinal, I am 72 years old, all my life I have dedicated to planting and harvesting the palm, because this is the main livelihood of my family. I love my work, I do it with all my affection, I hope that Mother Earth continues to give us this wonderful product for many more years.
Step 2. HAND-WOVEN
First, the best toquilla is selected, that is, it does not have imperfections such as stains, old, very small, dirty, etc., this is necessary to guarantee an excellent fabric of the hat. Then the straw is divided with the nails to define the texture that the hat will take, because the finer the straw, the finer the hat will be.
The thinness of the fabric determines its fineness and manufacturing time. A fine hat can take between 2 and 10 days to weave, although there are hats that take months, known as superfine and extrafine. For this, the craftsman must have a long career, where he combines experience with skill.
Hi, I'm Bertha Caivinagua, I am 65 years old, I've been knitting these beautiful hats since I was a child, my parents taught me and my grandparents made them.
Step 3. FINISHED
At this stage the hat goes through some processes:
- Azocado, the final fabric that closes the hat is called.
- Washing, it is done to remove stains and impurities from the straw.
- Ironing, to fully adjust the fibers and avoid holes.
- Maseteado, this is done to give softness to the hat.
- Pressed, in this step the hat takes its final shape.
- Sewing, in this process the ribbon, labels, decoration and the trademark are put.
The artisans who finish a fine hat have more than 30 years of experience, as the process is delicate and each stage must be taken care of or the hat may break.
My name is Tomas I am 55 years old, since I was a child my brother taught me to iron hats and now I am proud of doing this beautiful activity.
The whole process is done by hand and with a lot of love from ours.
By purchasing a LISAN Hat you value our work and help our families, thank you.
