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Among the numerous weavers in the
town of Bécal, Campeche, Mexico, Don Holoch's family has
been weaving hats made from the jippi (pronounced heepee) plant for decades
in the quaint. Don Holoch, as he is known in his hometown, is Mr. Eulogio Chi Tzel , probably the best
hat weaver in Campeche, and perhaps Mexico. His four strand hats are
so soft, they feel
like silk and his work is known by collectors in the United States and
Europe. The government of Campeche has invited Mr. Chi to demonstrate
his weaving techniques during trade, culture and tourism missions outside
Campeche, including one to Germany in 2003. Don Holoch has been
recognized with numerous awards for his work.
Mr. Chi began weaving with the
jippi plant fibers at the age of 13, over 45 years ago. He learned this old
craft from his older brothers who in turned had learned from their elders.
Some 40 years ago, Don Eulogio dug his own weaving cave in the back yard of
his house. The caves are necessary to create an environment that is
humid enough so that the jippi fibres remain malleable. During
the rainy season, when it is quite humid at street level, Mr Chi and his
family can work inside their home.
The process involved in making
Bécal jippi hats is labour intensive and requires skill and patience, since
the hats are made by hand
In order to weave the finest of hats, what they call a " sombrero de 4 partidas" (4 strand hat), a highly skilled artisan may take 30 days working
a full 8 hour shift per day. To the touch, the 4 strand hats feel like one
is touching silk, so soft they are. Most hats weaved for sale are usually 2
strands, but one can order a 4 strand hat directly from the artisans.
As you may imagine the 4 strand hats are not inexpensive.
In addition to Don Holoch, other
members of the family participate in the creation of hats in various styles.
Mr Chi's wife, Doña Manuelita Pool enjoys figuring out how to weave hats
with different shapes and colours. The colours, by the way, are mostly
achieved using ancient Mayan techniques that extract pigments from various
plants. The Chi Pool family makes hats of various styles: bronco (cowboy
style), panama, cuban style and several others.
Be sure to visit Bécal when you
visit Campeche City (or Merida City in the state of Yucatan). Bécal is about
one hour's drive from Campeche City or about a 40 minute drive from Merida.
One of Campeche's local travel services companies can arrange for a visit.
Once in town you may ask your driver to ask for directions to Don Holoch and
Doña Manuelita's house and perhaps they will invite you in to see their cave
and their home, so hospitable are they.
Parque de los Sombreros
Park of the Hats in Bécal, Campeche
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Entrance to the cave and strands of dried treated
jippi plant
A jippi plant
Artisan working the jippi in the cave where the
humidity keeps the strands malleable
Doña Manuelita Pool putting a finishing touch on a
Panama hat.
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