Coconut Leaf frond plaited hat

The coconut palm is known as the “Tree of Life” in the Philippines. The fruit provides juice and flesh for food, coir fibres used for ropes and mats, and the shell is a natural container. The leaves grow in the pinnate form, which is convenient to be interlaced circularly to become an instant hat or basket.
This hat was from Barbara’s 1978 scuba diving trip to the Philippines. These hats made of fresh leaves are often presented to the visitors as welcome gift and a reminder to shade oneself from the intense sun.