Shantung 'straw' hat is made from high performance paper rolled into a fine yarn and then woven, a process perfected by the Japanese in 610 A.D. This lighter yet very strong ' offered a perfect panama alternative and was dubbed the 'Shantung Panama.'Our finely woven Shantungs are glazed with our proprietary LiteStraw finish to provide a supple feel, water repellency and enhanced shape retention. Due to the nature of the fine fibers used to create the Shantung straw some color variation will occur when dyed. This enhances the beauty and uniqueness of this product. This hat is skillfully made by our craftsmen right here in the USA.