How to care for your RAFFIA hat Practical guide

Made from a natural material, the RAFFIA hat seduces with its authentic look. Another major advantage is that, while felt hats are often reserved for winter use, this hat 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 the RAFFIA hat and want to keep your favorite headgear in good condition? Looking for advice on how to clean it and preserve its original shape? Specializing in the manufacture of handmade RAFFIA products from Madagascar, IBELIV offers you its best advice on how to care for your RAFFIA hat.

Why maintain your hat in RAFFIA ?

Robust and flexible, the RAFFIA is a material that promises a long life for your hat! Nevertheless, 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 dirty 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 maintenance to preserve its original appearance...

SAFARI Garden Tea

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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.

Hat cleaning in RAFFIA

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, which respects the RAFFIA fiber.

Hat storage in RAFFIA

Like a felt or straw hat, the RAFFIA hat can become deformed if care is not taken when storing it. Folding and storing it under other products for long periods of time can eventually alter its original shape. To avoid this problem, store your hat in a suitable space and do not place any product on top of it.

Here's a little tip to help your RAFFIA hat retain its shape: fill the crown 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. You can also ensure that the brim remains flat by placing clothes on top for optimum protection.

Stiffening the hat in RAFFIA

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.

And the 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 skills such as RAFFIA crocheting and vegetable tanning of leather. The result is a range of excellent RAFFIA products with an unmistakable contemporary touch!

How do I care for a two-component 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!