「麦わら帽子」にも円安・中東情勢の影響が…夏本番を前に笠岡市の老舗帽子メーカーは生産に大忙し【岡山】 (26/05/14 18:00)

May 14th was a hot day reminiscent of the height of summer, and straw hat production is at its peak at a hat manufacturer in Kasaoka City. Veteran craftsmen are sewing ribbon-like materials together on sewing machines. Ishida Hat Manufacturing, a long-established hat manufacturer in Kasaoka City, is experiencing peak production of straw hats ahead of the peak of summer. Besides straw, materials such as coconut and paper are used, and each hat is made by hand. This company produces 7,000 to 8,000 straw hats annually, but demand for straw hats is high due to increased awareness of heatstroke prevention and environmental issues, and production is struggling to keep up at this time of year. Furthermore, amid rising raw material costs due to the weak yen and the situation in the Middle East, the company is reviewing its production processes to reduce costs and minimize the impact on product prices. (Ishida Hat Company Public Relations, Koto Ishida) "The summery look of the natural straw material really evokes the feeling of summer, and its ability to be easily paired with everyday clothes for a stylish touch is what makes it so popular." Straw hat production is expected to continue at its peak until early June.