The Panama Hat Company of St. Augustine is part of
San Agustín Import-Export, Inc., a
family-owned Florida corporation specializing in Panama Hatsalt. It has been in business since 1985 in
St. Augustine, Florida.
About the owners:
Consuelo Soria Lippi, a native of Ecuador and someone who has a deep
appreciation for the artisans and handcrafts of her homeland, found the
company with her husband Chuck Lippi in 1985 in St. Augustine,
Florida. Chuck learned to appreciate Panama Hats over 30 years ago while working in the
Peace Corps in Ecuador in a small rural Andean village where many of the
men and women spent their free time in the evenings weaving Panama Hats.
In 2002 Chuck and Consuelo's son, Tony Lippi, joined the company.
Tony brings new skills to the company. In addition to his extensive
knowledge of the hat trade, Tony has spent time in Ecuador with hat
artisans and has learned how to hand block Montecristi Panama Hats.
