How to care for your raffia hat Practical guide

Made from a natural material, the raffia hat seduces with its authentic look. Another great advantage is that, while felt hats are often reserved for winter use, this headgear will accompany you through the seasons without weighing you down. Its breathability makes it a pleasure to wear in summer as well as the rest of the year. Last but not least, raffia hats are durable products that take on a beautiful patina over time and never go out of fashion.

Are you a fan of raffia hats and want to keep your favorite headgear in good condition? Looking for advice on how to clean it and preserve its original shape? IBELIV specializes in the manufacture of handmade raffia products from Madagascar, and offers you its best advice on how to care for your raffia hat.

Why maintain your raffia hat?

Robust and flexible, raffia is a material that promises a long life for your hat! However, as with all products subject to regular use, a minimum of maintenance is necessary to keep raffia hats in good condition. Indeed, dust and impurities can soil the cap or brim of your hat during your outdoor escapades. Raffia hats can also lose their original shape when stored in a small space, folded or stored under other products.

A house of expertise, IBELIV is committed to more responsible production and consumption by offering products that last over time. The antithesis of the disposable fashion industry, our brand is a sustainable object, reviving the charm of handcrafted products made from a natural material that takes on a beautiful patina over time... So, once they've become part of your life, our raffia hats become faithful companions, following you on all your adventures and telling a story of their own.

A philosophy that encourages us to accompany you step by step, from the purchase of your raffia hat to its daily care to preserve its original appearance...

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Hat care: our tips for caring for your headgear, from cleaning to stiffening

Here are a few best practices to keep your raffia hat looking and feeling its best.

Cleaning your raffia hat

A hat is first and foremost a fashion accessory, just like a bag, and therefore does not require regular cleaning. The best way to keep your hat clean is toavoid stains or exposing it to potential sources of dirt. However, should your hat become stained, it's best to act quickly. Here's how:

Run a damp sponge (or damp towel) over the cap and brim to remove stains.
If necessary, add a little neutral-colored soap, such as Marseille soap, recommended for its natural composition that respects the raffia fiber.

Storing the raffia hat

Like a felt or straw hat, a raffia hat can be deformed if care is not taken when storing it. Folding and storing under other products for long periods can eventually alter its original shape. To avoid this problem, make sure you store your hat in a suitable space and don't place any products on top of it.

Here's a little tip for keeping your raffia hat in tip-top shape: fill the crown of your hat with newspaper. This will ensure that this part of the hat retains its bouncy appearance.

Additional tip: if you want to travel with your raffia hat, place clothes inside the cap to preserve its shape. Also, make sure the brim stays flat by placing clothes on it for optimum protection.

Stiffening the raffia hat

As our hats are made from natural raffia fiber, they live and evolve over time. This material can soften, which is often appreciated for the look it gives the product. However, if you wish to stiffen your raffia hat, here's how to do it:

Use a spray bottle (or steam) to lightly moisten the hat evenly.
Leave to dry out of direct sunlight. This method helps to firm up the hat without altering its structure.

Keep in mind that stiffening is not something you should do on a regular basis. The best way to preserve your hat is to take good care of it.

What about bi-material hats in raffia and leather?

At IBELIV, we offer a complete selection of raffia hats. From 100% raffia to bi-material headwear in leather and raffia, this selection sublimates natural materials thanks to ancestral know-how such as the crocheting of raffia and the vegetable tanning of leather. It's the perfect way to take raffia products to the next level of excellence, while giving them an original contemporary touch!

How do I care for a bi-material hat made of raffia and leather? The leather part requires special care. To keep this part of your raffia hat looking its best, you can use a cleaning cream specially formulated for leather or, quite simply, a moisturizing or nourishing cream already available among your beauty products.

Please note: as our leather is vegetable-tanned, if you don't have a special cream on hand, a skin moisturizer (preferably neutral in color) can be an effective alternative.

With IBELIV, your raffia hat will retain its authentic charm year after year. Follow our care tips and don't hesitate to add other raffia hat models to your wardrobe, so you can match your headgear to any outfit and any occasion!

How to care for your raffia hat