Straw

Straw is dried stalks of threshed grains, especially wheat, barley, oats, Abacca (Musa textilis), Toquilla Palm Leaf, agave sisalana plant and rye. It has been used from antiquity for bedding, covering floors, and thatching roofs, as fodder and litter for animals, and in weaving such articles as mats, screens, baskets, ornaments and hangings, hats, sandals, fans, and armor.
Of course also in hats and braids for hats.

Often we think of straw hats as cheap not good quality material. Sun hats and beach hats come to mind when speaking of straw.
The reality is that the finer the straw weave the more expensive the straw hood.
There are many different names for straw, which often relate to the weave and the material used for making the hood,
Swiss straw, Pari buntal , Pari sisal, Bali buntal , leghorn, panama, toya straw, Ramie etc are only some of them.

All weaves have it specific weave and start to the weave.

Straw can be dyed.

There is only one straw which uses part machine and this is the Toya. All others are woven by hand by skilled crafts people.............so next time you complain about how expensive a hood is, ask yourself what the person weaving it was paid.....? Most likely the answer is ..VERY LITTLE!!!