Tanaka Hat Store Straw Boater Hat with Drooping Ribbon "Cecil"

Cecil - Straw Boater with Dangling Ribbon

A boater hat characterized by its long brim and long dangling ribbon.

This boater hat features a 10cm brim, a unique characteristic of straw hats, and a long dangling ribbon. The perfectly straight brim adds to its elegance.






An adult's hat with attention to detail

An elegant 10cm brim, achievable with a straw hat. The slightly shallow design and use of fine straw elevate it to an adult's hat, setting it apart from more utilitarian options.
The long ribbon can be left to dangle or tied into a bow, offering versatile styling options. It also looks stylish when tied around a bag for carrying.

Perfect not only for resort wear on your travels but also for everyday use in the city.




Straw material: excellent breathability and ideal for sun protection

While straw hats cannot be folded, making them a bit inconvenient to carry, they possess many unique charms. These include the natural feel of the material and its cooling properties.
When exposed to sunlight, straw glistens slightly. This is a unique characteristic of straw, not found in artificial materials. Its cooling properties are proven by the fact that many farmers still favor them, as the straw fibers themselves have countless invisible pores that are believed to act as air holes after drying.
Furthermore, being a slightly stiff material, the brim resists drooping even when long, making it useful for sun protection.








Made from straw braid woven with seven strands of straw

The primary material used for straw hats is barley stalks. These are woven into a braid using seven strands, creating what is known as "straw sanada" (braid).
First, the individually hand-woven braids are dampened with a mister and then sewn. Next, they are shaped using a mold, dried in the sun to remove moisture, and then decorated.
This process of sewing, molding, and decorating is divided among three people, resulting in the completion of one hat.





Established in 1880 - A long-established shop boasting over 100 years of history.<

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Straw hats are a traditional craft of Kasukabe City, Saitama Prefecture.
Currently, there are few factories in Japan that can mass-produce them, and among them, Tanaka Hat Store is a long-established company boasting over 100 years of history and tradition.

Straw hats are made using a unique sewing method where seven strands of straw are woven together and then each hat is painstakingly sewn in a circular pattern by artisans.

Straw, a natural material, is breathable and ideal for sun protection, making it an essential hat for summer.
Tanaka Hat Store continues to meticulously craft popular straw hats for all genders and generations, using traditional methods.




Adjustable adjuster

A hook-and-loop fastener is installed inside the sweatband, allowing for size adjustment by pulling it.
The adjustment range reduces the stated size by approximately 1.5 cm. Even for those who fit without adjustment, it's useful for fine-tuning on windy days.



COLOR


Natural x Black Ribbon











Sewing: A test of the artisan's intuition

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Straw braid, softened by soaking in water, is sewn using a hat-making sewing machine. Sewing begins from the "crown," the top part of the hat, and proceeds in overlapping circles.

The artisan carefully sews, occasionally checking the size with a wooden hat block. The finer the material, the more difficult the sewing becomes, and only skilled artisans can create a beautiful shape. Hats sewn with highly skilled techniques not only look beautiful but are also exceptionally comfortable to wear.




Kanboshi: A Local Winter Tradition

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Straw hats are sewn from autumn to winter in preparation for the coming spring. Since the material is softened by soaking it in water before sewing, the finished straw hats are then sun-dried.

This process is often carried out during the cold, dry winter months, hence it is called "kanboshi" (cold drying), and the sight of straw hats lined up across the ground has become a "seasonal tradition" in Kasukabe City.




Shaping: Giving the hat its unique character

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Using a dedicated shaping machine with a metal mold, the hat is pressed and formed with hydraulic pressure. Depending on the design, the crown and brim may be formed separately using different wooden molds, with each piece hand-steamed. Having a wide variety of molds allows for the creation of various hat designs through different combinations.




Decoration

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After shaping, sweatbands, ribbons, and other decorations are applied. Everything is done by hand, and artisans meticulously sew on each accent ribbon.




Finishing

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Finally, fine straw "splinters" are removed. When straw is woven, the surface skin can peel or buds can protrude.

If worn as is, it can feel prickly and uncomfortable. For the wearer's comfort, each of these is carefully trimmed by hand, stroking the hat with the palm. This shows the artisan's thoughtfulness for the wearer.

Product Details
A boater hat characterized by its long brim and long dangling ribbon. The slightly shallow design and use of fine straw elevate it to an adult's hat, setting it apart from more utilitarian options. Perfect not only for resort wear on your travels but also for everyday use in the city.
Size	Head circumference: 57cm *Adjustable with hook-and-loop fastener (up to -1.5cm) Height: 8cm Brim length: 10cm Ribbon length: 60cm each side under the brim
Material	〈Main body〉Natural plant fiber (straw) 〈Sweatband〉Polyester 〈Grosgrain Ribbon〉Rayon
Country of Origin	Japan
Remarks	〇As this is handmade, there may be slight individual differences, and sizes are approximate. 〇Do not use a hairdryer as it may cause the hat to lose its shape. Straw hats are inherently vulnerable to water. If wet, reshape and dry in the shade.