Island Style
Genuine, Hand-Woven Monetcristi Panama Hats
With Rare Ventilated Weave – Very Cool
People who live in the islands are a little more laid back. We walk slower. We smile faster. We talk to strangers. We yield, even where there is no sign. We wave at other drivers, using all five fingers. We don’t own neckties. We are the opposite of buttoned down. We stop to smell the plumerias. We prefer convertibles to hardtops, sandals to wingtips.
In the island tradition of stylish comfort, I give you–– “Island Style” Montecristi Panama hats. Sandals for your head TM.
Plumeria Flowers from My Yard
These “open weave” crowns let the trade winds have free trade with your head, blowing right on through the geometric weave patterns, cooling your brow and calming your life. Wider brims will provide nearly weightless shade and comfort. If you thrive on envy, wear one to the company 4 th of July picnic.
Waimanalo Beach, Oahu
Once you get your hands on your favorite style, watch what happens when you put it on. Get in front of a mirror. There you are, looking like you, feeling like you. Then you put the hat on. Suddenly, you’re Stylin’ ‘neath the palms.TM Even where there are no palms.
Cool. Very cool.
Special note: “Island Weave” Montecristi hats have a serious wow factor. You will receive compliments from admiring strangers. You may want to have a short response ready. Think about TV news sound bites. Be brief. Be modest. Mention my name at least five times.
Conch on the Nose
For men and women
The Classic Fedora has been my most popular style
for more than 30 years. And the Classic Fedora
Island Style is the most popular of the “open weave”
styles. If you wear one, you also will be popular.
Many years ago, I made a personal hat with this diagonal weave pattern. It got compliments every time I wore the hat. So, I had more hats custom woven with this same pattern. Why should I be the only one getting all those compliments?
Just in case you’ve never seen this type of weave close up, the dark areas are spaces between the straw. The light areas are the straw itself. Serious ventilation. Almost like having an air-conditioned hat.
Montecristi hats are famous for being woven of very thin (fine) straw. So they are lighter weight, thinner, and less “firm” than most Panama hats you may have experienced. The open weave crowns have about half as much straw as a solid weave Montecristi hat. So, they are even lighter weight, even less “firm.” I do put a little stiffener in the straw so they will hold the shape better, but I don’t make them stiff. (If you want it stiff, just ask.)
Crown heights and brims widths vary. Minimum crown height is 4 3/8 inches measured on the side. I generally aim for about 2 1/2 to 3 inches of brim width. If you have a specific brim width in mind, let me know and I’ll see if I have a hat that will block to your size, and will also have the brim width you prefer.
This is a very cool style. Both literally and figuratively. By wearing one, you also will be very cool.
Prices
Custom Made
Custom Sized
Everything by Hand
Premium
$650
Master Weaver
&
Mil Fino hats
$3500 to $40,000
Go to:
Details
Brim
2 1⁄2to 3 1⁄8inches
crown
4 3⁄8 to 4 3⁄4inches
Sizes
21 1⁄8to 25 1⁄4inches
(53.5 to 64 cm)
SWEATBAND
Standard sweatband for this style is Cotton Twill.
RIBBON
Standard ribbon for this style is 1 1⁄16inch black.
For men and women
This has been a very popular style for many
years. I used to call it the Golf of Panama.
(Small joke on Gulf of Panama, and a
good style for golfers.) Now, I’m welcoming
the style to the family of Island Style styles and renaming it accordingly.
This is an absolutely classic Panama hat style. Think Clark Gable in GWTW. Perhaps Mr. Gable would have preferred the open weave and better ventilation of the Island Style version had it been available, especially while escaping the inferno of Atlanta burning. That would have been much hotter than an August afternoon in Atlanta today, even factoring in global warming.
It is a truly great style for golfers. Good sun protection, good ventilation, and very good looking. Some clients swear the Monte Carlo IS takes at least five strokes off their game. I’m inclined to believe them.
Not a golfer? No worries. Unless you have a personal prohibition against looking great, this is an excellent choice for men or women.
Geometrical patterns vary, but they are all attractive, so no need to fret over what I might choose. I generally choose whichever hat will block to your size, and will also have the brim width you prefer.
As you can see, this is not just a hat – it’s Art. The artists of the small village of Las Lagunas, in Montecristi Canton, weave the straw into geometric designs. Like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike. I’ve watched them do it, and I still don’t believe it’s possible. They assure me it is, and keep weaving.
Prove it to yourself by ordering one.
Prices
Custom Made
Custom Sized
Everything by Hand
Brim widths shown are after the curl. So they are the final brim width.
Regular
23⁄4 to 31⁄8″ — $800
Wider
31⁄4 to 33⁄4″ — $1100
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Details
crown
3 5⁄8to 4 inches
Sizes
21 to 24 ½ inches
(53.3 to 62.2 cm)
SWEATBAND
Standard sweatband for this style is Cotton Twill.
RIBBON
Standard ribbon for this style is 1 1⁄16inch black.
For men and women
WOW! Look at these! More proof that
Montecrist is where straw becomes art.TM
Brilliant design. The diagonal pattern woven into the hats
extends all the way out into the 4-inch brim. Choice of
four colors of vintage ribbons or Classic Black.
If you wore this to a party in the Rose Garden, your hat would be what everyone would remember, what all the press coverage would report. When she asks, please tell the First Lady there are only a few of these, so she should hurry.
The dark areas of the weave are spaces between straws, spaces through which air comes and goes. You’ll feel as cool as you look.
Beach hat? Poolside? Perfect.
Fashion hat? You could wear the Breton IS with anything. Or nothing.
Prices
$750
Limited Edition
Only 12, hurry.
BRIM
4 ½ inches
CROWN
3 ¾ to 4 1/4 inches
SIZES
21 to 231⁄4 inches
(53 to 59 cm)
SWEATBAND
Standard sweatband for this style is Cotton Twill.
RIBBON
Vintage Dark Brown .75 in.
Vintage Light Brown/Taupe
Vintage Blue-Gray .75 in
Vintage Light Gray/Silver .75 in.
Classic Black .75 in.
For men and women
Same crown shape/style as the Monte Carlo IS
(above). The difference is the brim. Not curled
in front. So I favor a little less brim width than
the Monte Carlo IS. Good looking style.
Keeneland is the name of a famous thoroughbred horse race track in Lexington, Kentucky. It is a beautiful, perfect racecourse. And this is the perfect style to wear if you want to look like a winner. Distinctive yet understated. Imparts to the wearer a sophisticated, confident, stylish charisma. I am confident you will use this power cautiously and ethically.
You will look like a high roller, an insider who probably knows more than you will reveal. Don’t be surprised if strangers seek your advice on the featured stakes race that day.
Women’s – Bow In Back
Some women have told me they prefer the bow to be centered in back, instead of on the side. Okay. That’s easy enough. Just specify Bow In Back when you choose the ribbon in the selection process.
And if some men prefer the bow in back, that’s fine, too. Just specify Bow In Back when you choose the ribbon in the selection process.
Personally, I think it looks better on the side. But this is a business (sort of). So I’ll do as you ask (a lot of the time).
Prices
PREMIUM
Regular Brim – $750
Wide Brim – $1000
Details
BRIM
Width of brim before curling
Curl subtracts 1/4 to 1/2 inch
Regular – 3 1/8 to 3 3/8 inches
Wide – 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 inches
CROWN
3 1/2 to 4 inches
SIZES
21 1/4 to 24 ¼ inches
(53 to 62 cm)
SWEATBAND
Standard sweatband for this style is un-dyed fine leather – with breathing holes
RIBBON
Standard ribbon for this style is 1 1/16 inch Classic Black.
For men and women
The Aficionado IS is yet another great style.
I know, I know – so many perfect choices it’s
almost impossible to decide.
So buy them all.
The Aficionado IS has the exact same crown shape as the Classic Fedora IS and the Plantation IS. Same crown blocks, three different brim styles.
For the Aficionado IS regular brim, I look for a brim about 3 ¼ inches wide before the curl. The brim curl subtracts about 3/8 inch, leaving a brim width of a little under 3 inches after the curl. Except in the front, where it will be the full width.
You can also choose a wider brim. If you want to go wider, I’ll put a little more stiffener in the brim to discourage it from being too flappy in front.
This style has more of a Western look to it than the Plantation. And the front (uncurled) brim provides a little more shade for your face. I think this is a good style for golfers. Good sun protection, good ventilation, and very good-looking.
Geometrical patterns vary, but they are all attractive, so no need to fret over what I might choose. I generally choose whichever hat will block to your size, and will also have the brim width you prefer.
Prices
PREMIUM
Regular Brim – $750
Wide Brim – $1000
Details
BRIM
Width of brim before curling Curl subtracts 1/4 to 1/2 inch
Regular – 3 1/8 to 3 3/8 inches
Wide – 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 inches
CROWN
4 3⁄8 to 5/8 inches
SIZES
21 1/4 to 24 ¼ inches
(53 to 62 cm)
SWEATBAND
Standard sweatband for this style is un-dyed fine leather – with breathing holes
RIBBON
Standard ribbon for this style is 1 1/16 inch Classic Black.
For men and women
Same crown shape as the Classic Fedora IS
and Aficionado IS. The brim edge is curled all
the way around, for a little more structural
support, so you can go with a little wider brim, if you like.
This is the hat you wear if a big part of you doesn’t care what other people think, but another big part of you kind of likes to be envied and admired.
The sensible part of you likes a great-looking hat that is very, very cool.
The genius part of you unerringly recognizes a great thing when you see it, and unhesitatingly buys it.
That’s the part of you I’ve always liked best.
Prices
PREMIUM
Regular Brim – $750
Wide Brim – $1000
Extra Wide Brim – $1100
Details
BRIM
Width of brim before being curled
Curl subtracts 1/4 to 1/2 inch
Regular – 3 1/8 to 3 3/8 inches
Wide – 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 inches
Extra-wide – 3 7/8 to 4 ¼ inches
CROWN
4 3⁄8 to 4 5/8 inches
SIZES
21 1/4 to 24 ¼ inches
(53 to 64 cm)
SWEATBAND
Standard sweatband for this style is un-dyed fine leather – with breathing holes
RIBBON
Standard ribbon for this style is 1 1/16 inch Classic Black
For men and women
Famed actor Sidney Greenstreet wore
an Optimo in Casablanca and The Maltese
Falcon. I created a style that I believe would
have suited Sidney even better. So I named
it in his honor.
It’s an Optimo crown. Rounded dome shape with a front-to-back ridge or crest. Classic design. Definitely should be displayed in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
Brim has a pencil roll all around, like the Plantation IS and Monte Carlo IS. The curled brim edge subtracts three-eighths inch from the original brim width. Or more. Sometimes less.
Very distinctive style. Not a good choice if you wish to blend in. Such a great style deserved to be translated into an Island Style hat. So I did.
The stylin’-est style at the party – now with air conditioning.
This attention-getting style can be made in your choice of four brim widths. Yes, I could make one of each for you.
Hmm. What would we call your group of Greenstreets? A gaggle of Greenstreets? A cast of Greenstreets? A red of Greenstreets? A casablanca of Greenstreets? Ah, of course – a sidney of Greenstreets.
Prices
PREMIUM
Short Brim – $625
Regular Brim – $750
Wide Brim – $1000
Extra Wide Brim – $1100
Details
BRIM
Width of brim before being curled
Curl subtracts 1/4 to 1/2 inch
Short – 2 3/4 to 3 inches
Regular – 3 1/8 to 3 3/8 inches
Wide – 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 inches
CROWN
4 1⁄8 to 4 1/2 inches
SIZES
21 1/4 to 25 ¼ inches
(53 to 64 cm)
SWEATBAND
Standard sweatband for this style is fine leather.
RIBBON
Standard ribbon for this style is 1 3/8 inch black.
For men and women
In the interests of full disclosure – I made up
the name. As far as I know, there is no Hula Beach.
And I lived in Hawaii for 30 years. But it’s a good
name. Short. Familiar. Suggestive of fun,
perhaps even adventure.
And it definitely could be worn while doing the hula. Or while on a beach. Or while doing the hula on a beach. (If you go for that last one, photos would be greatly appreciated. By me, of course, and by the rest of humanity, no doubt.)
But none of that is mandatory. You could wear a Hula Beach while sitting near a swimming pool, nowhere near a beach. For that matter, you don’t have to be near water, either. You could wear a Hula Beach while golfing. Seriously. When have you seen a more enviable hat on a golf course?
Are you comfortable with being envied? Well, if you decide to wear a Hula Beach, you better get used it.
Prices
PREMIUM
Regular Brim – $750
Wide Brim – $1000
Extra Wide Brim – $1100
Details
BRIM
Width of brim before being curled
Curl subtracts 1/4 to 1/2 inch
Regular – 3 1/8 to 3 3/8 inches
Regular – 3 1/8 to 3 3/8 inches
Wide – 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 inches
Extra-wide – 3 7/8 to 4 ¼ inches
CROWN
4 1⁄8 to 4 1/2 inches
SIZES
21 1/4 to 25 ¼ inches
(53 to 64 cm)
SWEATBAND
Standard sweatband for this style is fine leather.
RIBBON
Standard ribbon for this style is 1 3/8 inch black.
For men and women
This is another Island Style version of a very popular
solid weave style. The style originated when a client
in Thailand asked me to copy a hat she saw in the
movie The Lover.
I’m glad she did. It is a great, classic style. It has been one of the most popular women’s styles for many years.
The Island Style version is even cooler. By extension, you will be even cooler when wearing one.
The “open weave” of the crown invites the air to come on in and go on through.
Now, being an airhead is a very cool thing.
Brim shape: 1. Wobbly 2. Up 3. Down in front 4. Down all around
Prices
Custom Made
Custom Sized
Everything by Hand
Details
BRIM
2 ¾ to 3 1⁄8 inches
CROWN
3 ¾ to 4 inches
SIZES
21 5/8 to 24 inches
(55 to 61 cm)
SWEATBAND
Standard sweatband for this style is un-dyed fine leather – with breathing holes.
RIBBON
Standard ribbon for this style is 1 7/16 inch black.
Brent Black Panama Hats
1314 Center Dr., Suite B-448
Medford, OR 97501
Toll Free: (888) 658-6500
Phone: (541) 201-3113
Text and photos © 1988-2021, B. Brent Black. All rights reserved.
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