Guatemalan or Mexican Palm, What's the difference?
Fine, standard, economy? Natural color vs. oak-colored?
All of our hats are made from the leaves of palm trees (Sabal mexicana, var. Sabal guatemalensis). It's the same tree but the Guatemalan hats are made differently than the Mexican hats.
Guatemalan palm:
- Species: Sabal mexicana, var. guatemalensis
- 7-strand braid, about 1/2" wide
- 5 (economy) - 14 (superfine) strands of braid to the inch
- Shaped by hand, using wooden hat blocks and cold water
- Have more surface texture, hand-crafted appearance
- Re-shapable using water
- Retain their shape when wet
Mexican palm:
- Species: Sabal mexicana
- 3-strand braid about 3/8" wide, braid is ironed
- 12-15 strands of braid to the inch
- Shaped by pressing in heated, metal molds
- Have a uniform, pressed surface appearance.
- Difficult to re-shape
- Retain their shape when wet
Guatemalan palm quality variations:
- Economy: 5 strands of braid per inch
- Standard: 7-strands of braid per inch
- Fine: 10-11 strands of braid per inch
- Superfine: 14 strands of braid per inch
- "Alligator Palm": braid has a zig-zag edge
- Oak-colored: palm leaves are boiled, turning them brown. Softer, hats lightly stiffened with gelatin.
Mexican palm quality variations:
- Stiffened and whitened. Inflexible.
- Soft, flexible (only a minimal amount of gelatin stiffener)
- Golden: dyed for a light golden color. Soft and flexible.