About The Panama Hat Company
The Panama Hat Company of St. Augustine is part of San Agustín Import-Export, Inc., a family-owned Florida corporation specializing in Panama Hats. It has been in business since 1985 in St. Augustine, Florida.
Come Visit Us! St. Augustine, the Nation’s oldest permanently inhabited city settled by European colonists. The Panama Hat Company is located on St. George Street approximately one block south of the City Gate and one block west of the old fort, El Castillo de San Marcos. We are open Monday – Saturday from 10am to 6pm and Sunday from 11am to 6pm.
The Panama Hat Company is known for it’s finely woven, hand-made Panama Hats. Regular weaves, up to very hard-to-find Panama Hats in “fino-fino extra fino” and “super fino” weaves. Our store also carries hats for active outdoor wear. Come visit us at our downtown St. Augustine location or browse our online store. Feel free to give us a call at (904) 829-0032 if you have any questions about purchasing a hat or need help maintaining and caring for your existing hats. We’re here for you!
The Owners
Consuelo Soria Lippi, a native of Ecuador and someone who has a deep appreciation for the artisans and handcrafts of her homeland, found the Panama Hat Company with her husband Chuck Lippi in 1985.
Chuck Lippi learned to appreciate Panama Hats over 30 years ago while working in the Peace Corps in Ecuador in a small rural Andean village where many of the men and women spent their free time in the evenings weaving Panama Hats. In 2002 Chuck and Consuelo’s son, Tony Lippi, joined the company.
Tony Lippi brings new skills to the company. In addition to his extensive knowledge of the hat trade, Tony has spent time in Ecuador with hat artisans and has learned how to hand block Montecristi Panama Hats.