Tanaka Hat Shop Straw Breton

Mush - Breton Straw Hat

A Breton-style hat with a beautifully feminine silhouette. The upturned front brim creates an elegant charm that brightens the face.










A feminine Breton hat with an upturned front brim. Its charm lies in the elegant, gentle curve characteristic of straw, with its rolled-up brim edge and round crown. The raised brim brightens the face and gives a crisp impression.

It's an item that easily pairs with any fashion.




Features a rounded shape with an upturned brim

While straw hats cannot be folded, making them a bit inconvenient to carry, they possess many unique charms. These include the natural texture and coolness unique to natural materials. Straw shimmers slightly when exposed to sunlight. This is a unique characteristic of straw that artificial materials lack.




The coolness is proven by the fact that many farmers still use them. It is believed that the stem fibers themselves have countless invisible pores, which act as air holes after drying. Furthermore, because it's a slightly stiff material, even a long brim doesn't sag easily, making it useful for sun protection.






Material: Straw Sanada woven from seven wheat stalks

The main material used for straw hats is barley stalks. Seven of these stalks are braided into a "Sanada cord" shape, known as "straw Sanada," which is then used as the material. First, the Sanada, which is hand-braided strand by strand, is moistened with a spray bottle and then sewn. Next, it is shaped, dried in the sun to remove moisture, and then decorated.

This process of sewing, shaping, and decorating is divided among three people, resulting in one finished hat.





Founded in 1880 - A long-established company with 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 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 braided into a single material, and each one is carefully layered and 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. At Tanaka Hat Shop, popular straw hats for all genders and generations are still carefully made one by one using traditional methods.




Adjustable adjuster

A hook-and-loop fastener is installed inside the sweatband, allowing for size adjustment by pulling the fastener. The adjustment range reduces the stated size by approximately 1.5 cm. Even for those who don't need adjustment, it's useful for fine-tuning on windy days.



COLOR

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Beige Ribbon





Black Ribbon











Sewing: A Test of the Artisan's Feel

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Softened straw Sanada, soaked in water, is sewn using a hat-making sewing machine. Sewing begins from the "crown" part of the hat, called the "vortex," and proceeds in circular layers.

The artisan carefully sews while occasionally checking the size with a hat block. The finer the material, the more difficult the sewing becomes, and only a skilled artisan can create a beautiful shape. Hats sewn with highly skilled techniques are not only visually appealing but also offer exceptional comfort.


Local Winter Air Drying

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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 air-dried in the sun.

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


Shaping: Giving the Hat Individuality

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Using a dedicated shaping machine with attached molds, the hat is pressed and formed with water pressure. Depending on the design, the crown and brim may be formed separately using different hat blocks, each hand-steamed. With numerous molds available, various hat designs can be created by combining them.


Decoration

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After shaping, decorations such as sweatbands and ribbons are added. Everything is done by hand, and artisans meticulously sew on the accent ribbons one by one.


Finishing

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Finally, any fine straw "splinters" are removed. In straw Sanada, the surface skin of the straw can peel or sprouts can protrude when braided.

If worn as is, it would feel prickly and uncomfortable. For the wearer's comfort, each hat is smoothed by hand, and these rough spots are carefully trimmed. This is the thoughtfulness of the artisan, considering the wearer.

Product Details
A feminine Breton hat with an upturned front brim. While it may appear to be a distinctive hat at first glance, the simply finished ribbon also contributes to an elegant and sophisticated design. Its compact size is also recommended for those who have never found a hat that suits them.
Size	Head circumference / 56cm *Adjustable with hook-and-loop fastener (up to -1.5cm) Height / 11cm Brim length / Front 8.5cm, Back 4cm
Material	〈Main body〉Natural grass (straw) 〈Sweatband〉Polyester 〈Ribbon〉Rayon
Country of Origin	Japan
Remarks	〇As each item is handmade, there may be slight individual differences, and sizes are approximate. 〇Please do not use a dryer as it may cause the hat to lose its shape. Straw hats are inherently vulnerable to water. If it gets wet, reshape it and air dry it in the shade.