Artisan Spotlight: Tula Hats

I bought my first Tula hat while in the Hamptons on a girlfriends getaway years ago, and since it’s so chic and such a great sun blocker (the highest rating of UPF 50+), I take it with me whenever I travel to a sundrenched destination. The sustainable palm is harvested twice a year and the tight-weave technique is the hallmark of artisans in a small village in Mexico. Pliable and easy to pack, the hats evoke the romance of old Mexico with the stylish flair of today—a staple in my travel bag.

Tula Hats was founded in 1989 by Alice Eichelmann who first purchased a wide-brimmed palm hat at a market in Guadalajara and thought it would be perfect for gardening. After consulting with commercial hat factories, she discovered a village in Mexico that’s home to expert weavers who now produce Tula Hats. Primarily, the women do the weaving and the men sew the strands of palm into the basic hat body. Then the hats are blocked and ready to be adorned, creating a functional, decorative accessory. Take a look at the process below!

Braiding the Palm

Stitching the Palm

Shaping the Hat

Adorning the Finishes

The Ranch Hat

Find our Tula Hats collection here!