One of the national symbols of Colombia is the 'sombrero vueltiao' (or 'sombrero vueltiado'), which translates from Colombian Spanish to English as 'hat with laps'. It is a traditional hat made out of locally grown cane from the region. The quality of the hat depends on the number of 'laps' used and the flexibility of its bending. The more flexible the hat is, the higher its quality is.
The making of the hat originated from the Zenu tribes of Colombia. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, the Colombian team and delegation wore the vueltiao during the opening ceremony of the games. The hat is traditionally worn by Columbian dancers and vallenato artists.
There are 5 main types of sombrero vueltiao:
• The Quinciano is the most commercially available and cheapest hat. They are made in just three days, loosely woven together and only use 15 pairs of cana flecha strips to make the weave.
• The Diecinueve uses 19 pairs of strips to produce a softer and finer sombrero. They can take up to a week to produce.
• The Veintiuno uses 21 pairs of strands per weave. They are usually custom made to order and take 10 to 15 days to produce by hand.
• The Vientitres is made from 23 pairs of strips. It takes 12 to 23 days to make from scratch.
• The Veintisiete uses 27 pairs of cana flecha. It is so flexible that it can be folded up and put in a pocket without being damaged. The weave is very dense and soft to touch. They are the most expensive kind of sombrero and can take up to a month to make by hand.
The making of the hat originated from the Zenu tribes of Colombia. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, the Colombian team and delegation wore the vueltiao during the opening ceremony of the games. The hat is traditionally worn by Columbian dancers and vallenato artists.
There are 5 main types of sombrero vueltiao:
• The Quinciano is the most commercially available and cheapest hat. They are made in just three days, loosely woven together and only use 15 pairs of cana flecha strips to make the weave.
• The Diecinueve uses 19 pairs of strips to produce a softer and finer sombrero. They can take up to a week to produce.
• The Veintiuno uses 21 pairs of strands per weave. They are usually custom made to order and take 10 to 15 days to produce by hand.
• The Vientitres is made from 23 pairs of strips. It takes 12 to 23 days to make from scratch.
• The Veintisiete uses 27 pairs of cana flecha. It is so flexible that it can be folded up and put in a pocket without being damaged. The weave is very dense and soft to touch. They are the most expensive kind of sombrero and can take up to a month to make by hand.