Leghorn hats are woven by hand in Leghorn, Italy. A very fine, bearded-wheat straw is used. The town gives the hat, its name. Straw weaving is the principal industry. The finer the straw and the smoother the weaving, the better the grade of hat.
Children start with coarse weaving and work up to the better grade as they grow older.
The straw is woven into braid strips and these are woven into hats. It is sometimes woven into body hats and sometimes into braids which are sewn into body hats. Panama hats are woven by natives of Panama, China, Japan, Cuba, and many of the southern islands. A fine grass is used. The weaving is done under water.