Panama straw, raffia, paper... What are the differences?

A summer essential, the straw hat comes in a multitude of shapes and styles: light and comfortable to wear, it's the must-have seasonal item that you absolutely need in your wardrobe. But which straw is right for you? Raffia, paper, panama... What are the differences between these natural fibers and how to recognize them? We explain everything.

Paper straw

Made of paper manufactured from pre-cooked straw, paper hats offer great flexibility and a soft texture. Very comfortable to wear and malleable, it's a very affordable hat. For a casual style at a small price, it's a good compromise between style, budget and comfort.They come in many models, dyed in all colors and available in all shapes.

Raffia

Flexible and durable, raffia is obtained from the palm leaves of Raphia ruffia. The weaving is less fine and more visible, which gives it a perfect style for relaxed sunny vacations. Malleable, it's also a less fragile straw that can therefore accompany you safely on vacation. A hat to favor if you want a model that is solid, trendy and affordable.

Traditional straw 

Rigid and solid, it has a thick fiber that provides good resistance to the hat. However, its composition doesn't allow it to be foldable, so you get a hat without flexibility, but light and casual for sunny days. Natural straw is also the choice of an authentic and rustic style in all circumstances. You can find dyed models, but you can choose it natural for a pretty golden color.

Panama

The cream of summer hats: elegant and high-end, panama is a natural fiber that comes from the Paja toquilla Hand-woven, most often in Ecuador, a panama hat is the result of long hours of work, patience and real ancestral know-how. Panama hats need to be maintained carefully due to their fragile composition which can easily break. However, they are undoubtedly the straw hats that offer the most beautiful elegance. Sometimes colored, panama hats are generally bleached

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You are now ready to choose the headwear that suits you. To find the hat you need, don't hesitate to visit the Traclet online store to check our special panama category as well as the straw hats category !