Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-10
"PANAMAr HATS.
How They Are Made From the Jippi'
Jappa Plant.

What are generally known as Pan
anna hats are not made in Panama at
all but chiefly in South America, espe-
cially III Colombia and Ecuador and to
some extent in several Central Ameri-
can states The manufacture Of these
hats is an important industry in Ec-
uador, from which they were exported
to the value of 81, 100000 in 1906. the
exports of this article from Colombia
being less than that amount.
In these countries the price of the
hats usually ranges from 80 cents to
s., but in Honduras some hats are
made which sell for s25 each, and in
Ecuador grade called "especiales" is
made, requiring months of work to
finish a single hat, which may sell
there for 800 or even more. All grades
of these hats are made from the leaves
of palm plant (Carludovica pamata>.
called locally in various countries "iipi-
jappa. from the canton of that name
in the province of Manabi, on the
coast of Ecuador, where the finest of
these hats in the world are manufac-
tured
The plant from which hats are made
in Jamaica is said by some authorities
to be exactly the same as that used
in Colombia and Ecuador. but by 9TH
ers it is called Carludoyica Jamaican
sis. to indicate that there is a slight
difference in the plants. But the term
used here for both the plant and the
hats is jippi-jappa (spelled with
double PSI.
The first hat of this kind manufac
tured in jamaica was made in 1899 or
1910 by a Spaniard. who recognized
the plant growing along the Cassava
river as the same as that from which
hats We're manufactured in South
America In 1874 at a colonial eXhi-
bition at Spanish Town, the former
capital of Jamaica, a prize of G20
$50 was awarded for a hat of this
sort made in the island. The making
of these hats grew into so large an in
dustry before the earthquake in 1907,
owing somewhat to the purchases
made by tourists. that Il school was
established in Kingston to instruct
girls in the art of making hats.
The plant which furnishes the ma
terial for the hats is a bushy palm
growing in clusters along rivers and
in damp places. Just before the long
sheath or spathe which incloses the
palm leaf expands it is cut off, the
narrow outer blades on two sides are
stripped off the remaining portion is
divided lengthwise into halves, and
then, by sticking a pin or knife blade
through each half, the edge of the
blades is split off on each side, leaving
a Strin of uniform width in ha
middle of rhe blades. the width being
determined by the quality of the hat
to be made. as the narrower the strips
the finer the hat. These strips, still
fastened to the stems, are boiled in
water Osalt and lime juice being add
ed or not )for half an hour and then
dried in the sun. AS they dry they
shriVel up into round, compact form,
when the material, now ready for the
hatmaker is called Straw" 1t usually
requires from 90 to 80 spathes or buds
which are % 20 80 inches long, to fur
nish enough straw for an ordinary hat,
the number varying with the size and
quality Of the hats. These hats are
plalted or woven in one piece, the work
being done chiefly by women and girls
although it provides occupation also
for men in rainy weather, or whenever
they have no outdoor labor to perform.
1t takes two or three days to make ar.
ordinary hat and 10 to Is days to make
fine one. While the finer hats are
being plated the straw is kept wet.
When the plating is done the hat is
washed and pressed and then blocked
and dried in the sun. After being
worn it may be washed and blocked
again and again.
The best of these hats can scarcely
be distinguished from the so-called
Panama hat and their wearing quality
is very good. AS the jippi-jappa hats
are sold at much lower price there
should be d wide market for them
among people who are not able to buy
expensive articles. AS rule these ia
maica hats retail here at 81 to S.,
though a small number may bring IS
to $40 each. The hat makers may bring
IS to $40 each. The hat makers get S.
to Sc dozen for coarse hats $8 to $12
dozen for a good quality, and $25 to
$50 dozen for fine hats. The demand
for these hats has been too irregular
to warrant the manufacture of any
large quantity unless ordered by ship
pers. The home market is dependent
to considerable extent on tourists,
and the frequent changes in styles for
mems, and especially for women's hats
have also deferred makers from keep