Jorge Parada López is from the state of Guanajuato where he is engaged making and selling Panama hats. Few accessories distinguished the elegant man of the 1930s and 1940s as did a good Panama hat made from white jipi fibers. Glamorous figures from Hollywood have made them their personal trademark.

Jorge makes hats for men and women alike. In fact, I have never found such varied designs for women's hats elsewhere. There are only a few artisans (tejadores) left in Mexico who practice the art of weaving Panama hats.

The raw material is jipi, a fiber taken from a palm. The tender leaves are cut, without splitting them open. When preparation begins, the leaves are split open, put to dry in the sun and then "bleached" with sulfur vapors. The humidity of the workplace is vital. If the fibers are to be worked, they cannot be allowed to dry as they may break. Thus, during the rainy season, the weaving may be undertaken in the courtyard of the family house.

The weaving of the hats begins with the crown and finishes with the brim. The weave is fine and tight, and of magnificent texture. This Mexican handicraft is becoming a lost art.

If you are interested in purchasing Jorge's work, call Marianne Carlson at 011522 376 765 7485 or email mariannecarlson@gmail.com