Ecuador - Montecristi Hats

2015/03/13 - Pile, Ecuador: Manuel Lopez wets his fingers in order to be able to weave the straw into a "Montecristi hat". He is only able to work between 6am to 9am and then from 7pm till 10pm, because it is when the humidity conditions are at its best to work on the straw. Otherwise the heat will dry the straw and break it, damaging the hat. Manuel is one of the finest weavers in the village of Pile. It will take him on average 3 months to weave one hat, which he will sell it by around US$700. UNESCO declared the “Montecristi hat” in 2012 as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

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Copyright: Eduardo Leal
Image Size: 2520x3780 / 1.8MB; Artisan Ecuador Panama hat Pile hat sombrero south america tradition
Contained in galleries: Ecuador - Montecristi Hats

2015/03/13 - Pile, Ecuador: Manuel Lopez wets his fingers in order to be able to weave the straw into a "Montecristi hat". He is only able to work between 6am to 9am and then from 7pm till 10pm, because it is when the humidity conditions are at its best to work on the straw. Otherwise the heat will dry the straw and break it, damaging the hat. Manuel is one of the finest weavers in the village of Pile. It will take him on average 3 months to weave one hat, which he will sell it by around US$700. UNESCO declared the “Montecristi hat” in 2012 as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.