Vittorio

Designer Name: DORIA 1905

Our Vittorio hat is a fedora made from Cuenca Panama, a straw weave typical of the city of the same name. Our Salento artisans work the shapeless, semi-finished material from Ecuador with the help of steam and heat, hand-stretching it over special wooden forms. This process shapes the material to the desired shape of the crown and brim.

The material from which the famous Panama is obtained undergoes several processing steps: it is a weave of "paja-toquilla" straw strands, a type of straw obtained from the leaves of Carludovica palmata, a plant native to Central and South America. The artisanal processing of these straw strands is done entirely by hand and is an important element of Ecuador's cultural heritage; in fact, these ancient production techniques have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Depending on the type and degree of weave used to make the straw, Panama hats take on different names and qualities. The finest ones can require up to eight months of manual labor by local artisans.

The hat, now fully formed, is handled with particular care throughout the process to maintain the traditional and unmistakable elasticity of Panama fibers.

Our small-brimmed Vittorio hat, crafted in a wraparound navy blue, is the final product of this process. It is finally finished with a storm gray grosgrain band and a gold-plated brass Doria logo.