Hat guide

Hats are a must-have accessory to enhance your outfit and protect you from the sun. Specializing in raffia hats, IBELIV will guide you towards the models that will harmoniously complement your style. Find your ideal hat with our help!

Before orienting yourself towards the type of hat that's right for you, a little introduction is in order. IBELIV is not a hatmaker like the others. We specialize in raffia products. An expertise that's far from coincidental!

It all began with Tiana in Madagascar: creating handmade objects to support her son Liva made her realize the importance of craftsmanship for women's independence. Years later, Liva Ramanandraibe made a much-needed return to her roots after her studies as a chartered accountant in France: the IBELIV brand was born at her instigation. Its aim: to enhance the value of Madagascar's natural resources and ancestral know-how, while offering Malagasy women the opportunity to emancipate themselves through work that values them.

The island's natural treasure, raffia has become IBELIV's flagship garment material. As for raffia crocheting, a skill rooted in Madagascar's DNA for decades, the craftswomen who make the brand's products are committed to perpetuating it through their sublime handmade creations: bags, clutches and ... raffia hats!

A master in theart of millinery, IBELIV offers a wide range of raffia hat models. From the fedora hat to the cloche hat, from the capeline to the safari hat, the most contemporary forms of headwear are available in our Madagascar-made collection.

Do you find it hard to tell the difference between a straw hat and a raffia hat? Would you like to know more about the origin of raffia and the benefits of this material? Although raffia has always been part of our history and resources in Madagascar, we know that this natural material is not always well known. So we're happy to take the time to help you discover this natural treasure of our island!

Madagascar raffia is a palm tree distinguished from other species by its long leaves. The raffia fibers used to make the hats in our collection are extracted from them. Why choose this natural fiber for your hats? Quite simply because of the unrivalled qualities of this material in terms of flexibility, robustness and color.

So, unlike the rigid, thick and fragile straw hat, the raffia hat is supple, resistant and aesthetically pleasing. This headgear can follow you everywhere without being damaged. It's an elegant choice for even the chicest parties. A challenge impossible with a fragile straw hat, with its rustic style almost exclusively associated with casual outfits. Finally, when it comes to care, raffia headwear is easy to clean, with no risk of deterioration. Simply wipe the brim and cap with a slightly damp sponge to remove any dust or residue.

There's no doubt about it: the raffia hat has everything you need! To help you make the most of it, here's an overview of today's most popular hat shapes. As you'd expect, we're not talking about the old-fashioned bowler hat or top hat. IBELIV offers raffia hats exclusively in feminine formats with contemporary lines.

With their irresistible design that alternates different knits, IBELIV hats are true works of art. Back home after a trip to the great outdoors? Place your raffia hat on a shelf or wooden peg, within easy reach. It'll instantly transform into a sublime decorative accessory until your next outing ...

Now that you know how to differentiate between the different hat models available, you need to decide which hat is right for you. Here are the essential criteria to take into account: body type, look and circumstances.

Face shape

Think you don't have a hat face? Think again: there's a hat for every face shape!

• Oval face: taller than it is wide, this face goes well with all types of hats. However, medium hat heights are preferable, to avoid an excessively elongated look.
• Round face: with rounded roots, full cheeks and a round chin, this face shape goes best with a wide-brimmed hat.
• Square face: broad forehead and angular jawline, this morphology needs to be softened by a hat with wide brim and/or round shape.
• Heart-shaped face: characterized by a narrow jawline, this face morphology prefers round-shaped hats with short brims.

The look

You can either reinforce a look or counterbalance your outfit by breaking the codes. For 100% elegance, for example, combine a chic outfit with a floppy hat. Your outfit of the moment is sober and ordinary: a cloche hat instantly adds a retro touch to your passe-partout look. If your outfit of the day is more casual, or even sloppy, opt for chic hats to create an original contrast.

The circumstances

Perfect your style by choosing the right hat for the right occasion. For example, a safari hat lends itself well to strolls, a capeline to social evenings and a trilby or fedora to work.

Remember: the perfect hat is, above all, the one you like! Make a lasting style statement with one of the raffia hats in the IBELIV collection, and gain instant confidence.