After weaving the hats are then washed and dried. Panamas are usually bleached although the natural off white colour of unbleached hats is sometimes preferred.

Image: Hats before (background) and after (foreground) bleaching.

Sometimes hats may be dyed in place of bleaching. Common colours are dark brown for men's hats and pastel shades of blue, red and green for ladies hats. After washing or dying hats are often laid out in the sun to dry.

Image: Hats laid out to dry after having been dyed.

The hats brims are then ironed to even out the weave and remove any small undulations in the straw.

Image: Ironing hat brims.

The sides and crown of the hat are evened out by beating. The beating process requires great care and skill to avoid damaging the hat.

Image: Beating a ladies wide brim to remove inconsistencies in the weave.

After ironing and beating, the remaining straw fibers around the brim are trimmed off to leave a neat woven edge.

Image: Trimming the straw ends .

A steam press is then used to give the hat its shape. A wide range of shapes are possible although the commonest are the Fedora, the Colonial, the Borsalino (or Planter) and the Stetson.

Images: Removing a hat from the press after steaming.

Finally a ribbon and internal band are attached before the Panama is ready for sale.

Image: Finished hats ready for sale.