TrovaBlog

Becal Campeche/Jipijapa Hats

March 13th, 2009

Today, and since the 1850s, the best Jipijapa hats are woven by Maya men and women in the town of Becal, Campeche. The houses of Becal are characterized by caves that have been dug about 15 feet deep into the limestone bedrock of the backyards. The Maya weavers practice their art in these caves because only here can the natural humidity of the tropical climate be spared from the heat of the tropical sun.

This atmosphere keeps the palm fronds pliable so that the weavers can painstakingly form them into hats, baskets, lamps, or anything else they choose. Hats are their most important product, and play a driving role in the economy of the village.

There are five tiers that describe the quality of the Jipijapa hats of Becal. The first level hat is constructed by splitting the palm leaf to produce a long even strip. In order to make a level 2 hat, that original strip is cut in half. The resulting hat is characterized by smaller strips, a tighter weave, and a softer, lighter end-product. This continues through to the Level 5 hat. Each higher level brings an exponentially higher time-commitment for the weaver (Level 4 hats, for example, take at least four weeks to weave; Level 5 might take months) and, ultimately, a higher price for the product.

Becal’s Jipijapa hats are incredibly popular and stylish; sold all over the world. They are also very practical in the way that they protect the wearer from the harmful effects of the sun while remaining surprisingly light and ventilated. One of the most impressive characteristics of these hats is their durability – Jipijapa hats can be bent, folded, twisted and crushed and will always return immediately to their original form.

Categories: Mexico | Tags: Becal, Campeche, Jipi, Jipi Hats, Jipijapa, Mexcio, Panama Hats, Trova, Trova Imports, Yucatan