Care & FAQs

When picking up or removing your Panama Straw or Fur Felt, lift the crow with your open palm at the base of the crown, or hold the brim. You should never pinch your hat’s crown between your fingers.

Between wearings, use a hat rack or a hat block with the correct shape. Don’t use hooks, which can distort your hat’s shape overtime. And never leave your hat in a car on a warm day. High heat can cause both form and fit to suffer.

Your Western Fur Felt hat has a stylish dip in the brim and needs to be placed upside down on the crown to avoid flattening the brim. Western Panamas do not have the stiffness of a Fur Felt and if placed upside down can flatten out over a period of time. Place your Western Panama hat on a narrow ledge that exerts no pressure on the front or back of the brim. Western Fur Felts can also be placed this way. Panama and Fur Felt Fedoras with a cup snap brim can rest on a flat counter with the front snap of the brim, extending over the edge of the counter.

Correct storage of your Panama or Fur Felt hat is a must. If possible, store your hat in the original box and leave it someplace cool and dry. Fur Felts should be placed in a plastic bag for protection against moths. Lavender or cedar balls are an additional moth deterrent. Panamas do not require a wrap of any kind unless it’s a breathable option (fabric or pillowcase). Remember to first clean your hat with a soft, whisk brush or horsehair brush before storing for extended periods of time.

Panama and Fur Felt hats cope with water differently.

Panama hats were created to protect wearers from the sun, not the rain, and can lose their shape if soaked through. A Panama hat that loses it’s shape can be repaired at home. Hold your hat over steam or boiling water and gently work it back into shape. Blow-drying is not recommended. Occasionally your Panama Straw might need to be returned for more sizing (starch).

However, water resistance is one of the chief advantages of Fur Felt and no additional waterproofing is needed. The more beaver in the hat, the more resistant to rain and snow it will be. If your hat becomes wet, carefully shake off any excess water and let it dry naturally. A Fur Felt hat can then be lightly brushed.

Occasionally wipe down your Panama with a soft lint free cloth, or brush it with a soft whisk or horsehair brush to remove dust and dirt. Additionally, wiping your hat down with a lightly damp sponge will help preserve the vitality of the straw. The natural fibers of your Panama hat can dry out in hot weather making it susceptible to cracking, especially if handled incorrectly by the pinches of the crown. An occasional light misting of water will help preserve your hat.

Fur Felts, on the other hand, don’t need extra moisture. Nor do they need special waterproofing sprays or treatments. We also recommend a horsehair brush for Fur Felt hats. Starting at the crown, brush your hat with light, counter-clockwise strokes. If you Fur Felt hat gathers any lint or pet hair, use a lint roller to safely lift up.

There are many services offered for both Panama Straw and Fur Felt to help maintain your hat. Your hat can be returned for cleanings and replacement components as needed, such as sweat bands, and ribbons. Once the hat is returned to us we’ll call you with our recommendations.

Try not to allow stains to soak into the natural fibers of your Panama hat. At the same time be cautious when treating stains. If the stain is on the surface, brush your hat with a soft whisk or horsehair brush to remove any dust and dirt then dampen a cloth in cold water and gently rub in the direction of the weave. If necessary, add a small amount of mild, colorless soap to the water. Your may also try pre-moistured facial wipes. Straw hat cleaning kits are available, but we do not recommend their use on a hat by Montecristi Custom Hat Works.

A soft cloth and cold water may also remove stains from your Fur Felt. Alternatively, use a soft rubber sponge dipped in cold water. Once dry your Fur Felt hat can be lightly brushed.

The highest quality sweatbands are used in all of our hats and are designed to absorb oil and perspiration, but folks perspire differently and a close eye should be kept on perspiration stains coming through to the material of the hat. Deep set and/or oil based stains call for professional cleaning, and we can’t guarantee severe staining will come out. Tough stains like blood and red wine require immediate attention, please call for advice in those cases.