Tanaka Hat Shop Fiona

Large, simple ribbon as an accent

The wide brim thoroughly covers your face, effectively blocking sunlight and providing excellent sun protection.
The brim has a wire so you can freely arrange its shape, making it a timeless design that can be combined with various styles.

What is Raffia?

Raffia is a natural material processed from the leaves of the "raffia palm," which is native to Madagascar. We make hats from woven cords crafted from these fibers. The material becomes softer and more comfortable to the touch the more you use it.

There are two types of raffia weaving: fine weave and coarse weave.
Normally, coarse weave can be completed in less than a day, but fine weave takes craftsmen 2 to 3 days to meticulously finish. Tanaka Hat Shop uses fine weave, resulting in not only a delicate and beautiful finish but also exceptional comfort.

Color Lineup
Black	Beige

Founded in 1880 ~ A long-established shop with over 100 years of history ~

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 Shop 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 into one material, and then meticulously sewn in a circular pattern by hand by artisans.

Made from natural straw, these hats are breathable and perfect for sun protection, making them an essential item for summer.
Tanaka Hat Shop still carefully crafts each popular straw hat for all genders and generations using traditional methods.

Sewing that tests the artisan's intuition

The straw braid, softened by soaking in water, is sewn using a hat-making machine.
Sewing begins from the "crown" part of the hat, called the "swirl," and proceeds in a circular, overlapping pattern.

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

Local winter tradition: cold drying

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

This process often takes place during the cold, dry winter months, hence it is called "kanboshi" (cold drying). The straw hats lined up across the ground have become a "seasonal tradition" of Kasukabe City.

Molding that gives hats their individuality

Using a dedicated molding machine with a metal mold, the hat is pressed and shaped with water pressure.
Depending on the design, the crown and brim may be combined from separate wooden molds and shaped by hand steaming one by one.
With many molds available, various hat designs can be created by combining them.

Decoration

After molding, decorations such as sweatbands and ribbons are added.
All work is done by hand, and the accent ribbons are meticulously sewn on by artisans one by one.

Finishing

Finally, fine straw "splinters" are removed.
In straw braid, the surface skin of the straw may peel or sprouts may protrude when woven.

If worn as is, it can feel prickly and uncomfortable.
For the wearer's comfort, each of these is carefully cut while rubbing the hat with the palm of the hand.
This is the thoughtfulness of the artisan, thinking of the person who will wear the hat.