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Frequently Asked Questions

If you can’t find an answer to your question here please contact us on 0117 955 9440 - we’d love to talk with you.  Alternatively, email sales@borgesandscott.com

General

Choosing your Borges & Scott Panama Hat

Wholesale & Bespoke Options

Payment

Delivery

Returns & Exchanges

Caring for your Panama Hat

General

  • What is a Panama Hat?
    A Panama hat (‘sombrero de paja toquilla’) is a traditional brimmed straw hat of Ecuadorian origin. Panamas are made from the plaited fibres of the Carludovica palmata plant, known as the toquilla palm.  Simply put, if it isn’t woven in Ecuador from toquilla palm, then it isn’t a Panama hat!

    In 2012 UNESCO designated the art of weaving a Panama Hat as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage”. 
  • How are Panama Hats made?
    The knowledge and skills needed to weave Panama hats are passed down from one generation to the next.  This skill provides hat-producing communities in Ecuador with a valuable income source as well as being a great sense of pride and cultural identity.

    For a full description of the process of making a Borges & Scott Panama hat, please click here 

 

Choosing your Borges & Scott Panama Hat

  • What are the different styles and shapes of Panama Hat? 
    The different styles and shapes of Panama Hat we offer include:

Style

Description

Fedora

The “Classic Panama”, with a mid-width brim and indented crown. Typically creased lengthwise down the crown and "pinched" near the front on both sides. The typical crown height is 11 cm.

The brim is usually approximately 6.4 cm wide.

Folder

Also known as the Colonial, Optimo or Natural. Has a single ridge along the centre of the crown which lends itself well to rolling up. Our most popular shape for regular travellers.

Dumont

Also known as the Planter or Gambler, it has a vintage, 1930s aesthetic. The brim, rather than flipping down, remains constant all the way around. Please note this style is not suited to rolling.

Teardrop Fedora

This adaptation of the classic Fedora has a slightly wider, teardrop shape crown, making the crown slightly lower than our classic Fedora, resulting in a closer fit.  It has a turned up brim at the rear, that comes down slightly at the front.  Please note this style is not ideal for rolling and will lose a little of its shape if rolled.

Trilby

A narrow-brimmed hat; which would normally be angled down at the front and turned up at the back. It also has a slightly shorter crown than our Fedora.  Borges & Scortt Trilbies have a "flip brim", and so can be worn with the whole of the brim turned up, or with the front turned down. Please note this style is not suited to rolling.

Heart (Ladies)

An extra wide-brimmed sun hat with a scalloped indentation at the back of the brim to produce the heart-shape. Finished with a pretty ribbon bow. Please note it is not suited to rolling.

Wide-brim Sun Hat (Ladies)

An extra wide-brimmed sun hat with smooth lines. Can be finished with a black band and bow.

 

  • How can these different styles all be Panamas Hats?
    People typically think of a Panama hat as a the classic white fedora style hat with a black band.  However, as long as the hat is woven in Ecuador using the traditional materials, methods and techniques, then it is a Panama hat regardless of the shape, style and colour of the hat.
  • Which type of weave should I choose?
    The quality of a Panama hat is dependent on a number of factor, including how fine the weave is. Borges & Scott specialise in higher-end weave qualities, but have partnered with Tumia LAC Panama Hats to bring an entry level weave to clients who are just starting to enter the world of Panamas.
    More information on the grades of weave available here.  
  • How do I measure my hat size?
    Please follow our detailed instructions found here. 
      
  • What are the colour options?
    The classic Panama hat colour combination is bleached white straw with a black band, but an attractive alternative is natural, unbleached straw matched with a dark brown band.  

    Our Trilby Panama has more colour options for those unafraid to stand out in a crowd; available in red, burnt orange, and natural/black striped.

 

Wholesale & Bespoke Options

  • I would like my to purchase Panama Hats for my Club / Society / Event; can you help?
    Yes, we’d love to! Please give us a call on 0117 955 9440 or email sales@borgesandscott.com to discuss your requirements.
  • Do you supply hats wholesale?
    Yes, we supply a select range of retail outlets and milliners.  We’re proud of our stylish, ethically produced hats as well as our history.  We look to ensure that this image and our values are reinforced through all of the stockists of our hats.  

    So, if you feel that your business has a high standard of retail with excellent customer service, please do get in touch. We are happy to discuss opportunities with new stockists in new locations. To make a trade enquiry please email trade@borgesandscott.com or call 01179 559 440.

 

Payment

  • What payment methods do you accept?
    We accept all major credit and debit cards (including AmEx) and PayPal. In certain circumstances we can also take payment by cheque or by BACS, please contact us if you would like to pay in this way.  
  • Is my online payment secure?
    We use GeoTrust, a leading online payment provider, to handle all card transactions. All data is processed using encrypted 256-bit SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates.
  • Can you send me a VAT invoice?
    Yes, please contact us to request this at sales@borgesandscott.com
  • Will I be charged customs or import taxes?
    If you live in the United Kingdom, or the USA you will not be charged any additional taxes. In other countries import taxes and duties may be payable locally by you.

 

Delivery

  • How much does delivery cost?
    UK Standard Delivery - FREE
    UK Next Day Delivery - £5.95
    EU Delivery - FREE
    USA - FREE
    Rest of the World - varies by country
  • Full delivery details

  • How long will my hat take to arrive?
    Standard UK - normally 2-3 days from date of order
    Next Day UK - next working day for orders placed before noon
    EU Delivery - varies by country, approx 2-7 days from date of order
    USA - approx 2-6 days from date of order
    Rest of the World - delivery times vary by country

    Full delivery details
  • I need my Panama hat urgently; can you help?
    Yes! Please see the details of the next day delivery service, or give us a call on 0117 9559440.
  • Can I track my order?
    Next Day and Overseas deliveries are sent on a fully tracked service.  Standard delivery cannot be tracked.
  • What about delivery to UK Highlands, Islands, Remote Areas, Channel Islands?
    Standard deliveries to remote UK locations may take longer to arrive, and Next Day delivery will incur a higher change that will be calculated at checkout.  Please call us if you have any questions.

 

Returns & Exchanges

  • What is your returns/exchange policy?
    We know that finding the right Panama Hat is difficult and getting that perfect fit is important.  So we are committed to being flexible when it comes to returns and exchanges.  If you are not happy with your purchase for any reason, you can return it (within 90 days of receipt) for an exchange or full refund.  If you have any general questions or concerns about our Panama Hats or the service we have provided, please get in touch: sales@borgesandscott.com or 01179 559 440.

    Please view our full Returns and Exchanges policy here.
  • Can I cancel or amend my order?
    Yes, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions of Sale.  Please call 0117 9559 440 or email sales@borgesandscott.com with your request as soon as possible, quoting your order number.
  • How do I return my hat?

    Free Returns are provided in the UK - see the form enclosed with your order for details.

    There will be a form included in your package - please complete the details on this so that we can process your return/exchange quickly.  The address for return is:
Borges & Scott
WeTrade Limited
Unit 21 Lawrence Hill Industrial Park
Croydon Street
Bristol
BS5 0EB
Free returns are also provided in the EU & USA - contact us for returns details - we offer several local addresses in the EU and USA to enable easy returns.

 

  • How long will my exchange take?
    Please allow shipping time back to us (dependent on the method you choose), then 1-2 working days for processing, then the delivery time (see How long will my hat take to arrive?) back to you.
  • How long will my refund take?
    Please allow shipping time back to us (dependent on the method you choose), then 3-4 working days for processing.

 

Caring for your Panama Hat

  • Can I roll any Borges & Scott Panama hat?
    No, the style of the hat dictates whether it can be rolled.

Style

Rollable?

Fedora

Yes - good for rolling.

Folder

Yes - ideal for rolling.

Dumont

No

Teardrop Fedora

Yes - OK for rolling.

Trilby

No

Heart (Ladies)

No

Wide-brim Sun Hat (Ladies)

Yes, but this size can make packing more difficult.


Please do not roll your hat until you have worn it for a few days, or ideally weeks.  The natural oils it will absorb as you wear it help to fit it to the precise shape of your head and soften the fibres, making the rolling process easier.  We cannot be responsible for damage caused by rolling a hat without it being properly worn in.   

Click here for instructions on rolling your Borges & Scott Panama hat.  

  • Can I store it in the travel tube?
    Do not store your hat rolled. Ideally it should be kept rolled for a maximum of 48-72 hours at a time.  To keep your hat looking as good as possible, roll it as little and as loosely as you can!
  • How should I look after my Panama Hat?
    Please refer to our Care Instructions here