So, what is SquisheeÂŽ?
In short, SquisheeÂŽ is a patented woven fabric invented by luxury milliner Eric Javits, a fine, straw-like textile made from recycled synthetic fibers that delivers certified UPF 50+ sun protection, full packability, and the performance expected from packable straw hats that natural straw simply can't match.
It is the defining material of the Eric Javits brand and the reason his hats have a devoted following among jet-setters, fashion editors, and dermatologists alike.
What Is SquisheeÂŽ Made Of?
SquisheeÂŽ begins as ultra-fine recycled synthetic fibers, processed and spun to a consistent diameter that mirrors the look and texture of traditional hand-woven straw.
 These fibers are then woven on precision looms into a dense, flexible textile that behaves unlike any natural fiber on the market.
Four characteristics define the material:
- Weave density: tight enough to earn UPF 50+ certification, blocking 98%+ of UV radiation
- Fiber flexibility: synthetic strands bend rather than crack, enabling full packability
- Weight: significantly lighter than natural straw, raffia, or sisal equivalents
- Texture: visually indistinguishable from fine hand-woven straw to the untrained eye
The result is a material that reads as luxury straw on the surface and performs like high-tech sportswear underneath.
If you want to compare synthetic and natural fibers more closely, read what sun hats are made of.
The Origin Story: Why Eric Javits Invented SquisheeÂŽ
Eric Javits launched his eponymous hat line in New York City in the late 1980s with one goal: create a hat beautiful enough for Fashion Week and practical enough to survive a transatlantic flight in a carry-on.
Natural straw, the luxury standard at the time, is notoriously fragile. Pack it, and it cracks. Leave it in the sun, and it bleaches. Get it wet, and it warps.
For a designer dressing women who travel for a living, that was not good enough.
Javits spent years experimenting with synthetic alternatives, aiming to replicate the refined aesthetic of toquilla and parasisal straw while solving every structural shortcoming. After multiple iterations, the result was SquisheeÂŽ, a proprietary weave that can be rolled, crushed, sat on, stuffed into a suitcase, and shaken back into perfect shape on arrival.
The name, intentionally playful, captures the product in one word: squish it, and it springs back.
A Turning Point for the Luxury Hat Industry
Before SquisheeÂŽ, high-end sun hats were treated like fine china, beautiful, expensive, and difficult to travel with. Most required a dedicated hat box or custom carry.
SquisheeÂŽ effectively collapsed that friction.
For the first time, a woman could pack a designer wide-brim hat between sweaters in her suitcase without a second thought. That single innovation helped reshape how luxury hats were marketed, merchandised, and worn.
SquisheeÂŽ vs Natural Straw: A Side-by-Side Comparison
| Property | SquisheeÂŽ | Natural Straw |
|---|---|---|
| Packability | Fully crushable, springs back to shape | Cracks when rolled |
| UPF Rating | UPF 50+ certified | Varies; often unrated |
| Water resistance | Water-resistant; retains shape when wet | Absorbs moisture, warps |
| Weight | Very lightweight | Moderate |
| Care | Wipe clean, air dry | Spot clean only; fragile |
| Longevity | Holds shape through years of travel | Degrades quickly with heavy use |
| Sustainability | Made from recycled synthetic fibers | Natural but often resource-intensive harvest |
Natural straw hats remain beautiful but for a traveler, an outdoor professional, or anyone living in a hot climate, SquisheeÂŽ wins on every performance metric that matters
UPF 50: What That Means for Your Skin
The UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating on SquisheeŽ hats is independently tested and certified under the AATCC Test Method 183, the same testing standard used by the Skin Cancer Foundation for their Seal of Recommendation.
A UPF 50+ rating means the fabric transmits less than 2% of UV radiation, blocking both UVA and UVB rays across the entire surface of the hat.
For context:
- A typical white cotton t-shirt: UPF ~5
- A loosely woven straw beach hat: UPF 6â15
- A standard baseball cap: UPF 10â20 (and leaves ears and neck exposed)
- A SquisheeÂŽ hat: UPF 50+
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The World Health Organization classifies UV radiation as a Group 1 carcinogen, and the American Academy of Dermatology reports that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.
In that context, the difference between an unrated hat and a certified UPF 50+ SquisheeÂŽ hat is not cosmetic, it is measurable skin protection.
For a side-by-side look at top-performing styles, see the best UPF 50+ hats.
Where You'll See SquisheeÂŽ in the Eric Javits Collection
SquisheeÂŽ is used across the signature Eric Javits silhouettes:
- SquisheeÂŽ Classic Fedora: the iconic silhouette that put the material on the fashion map
- SquisheeÂŽ Bayou: wide-brim fedora built for full-coverage sun protection
- Antigua Straw Fedora: classic wide-brim fedora in multiple colorways; one of the brand's most popular styles
- Lil SquisheeÂŽ Visor:Â open-crown design for hot-weather sport
- SquisheeÂŽ Bucket: modern 360-degree coverage silhouette
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Each style is hand-finished in the brand's atelier and individually UPF-tested. Browse the full SquisheeÂŽ collection for women to see the complete certified lineup.
How to Care for a SquisheeÂŽ Hat
SquisheeÂŽ is engineered to be low-maintenance but a few habits extend its life significantly:
- Wipe the surface with a damp cloth to remove dust, salt spray, or light dirt.
- For deeper cleaning, use mild soap and lukewarm water; rinse thoroughly and reshape by hand.
- Air dry away from direct heat sources, never a radiator or dryer.
- Store flat or hung on a peg. Stacking under heavy items will compress the brim over time, though the material will recover from short-term crushing.
- Do not machine wash, tumble dry, or dry clean. For broader maintenance guidance, see how to clean a straw hat.
- Avoid prolonged exposure to chlorine pool water or sunscreen-saturated surfaces when possible.
Treated with reasonable care, a SquisheeÂŽ hat will hold its shape and UPF rating for many seasons.
SquisheeÂŽ Glossary: Key Terms at a Glance
- UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor): the textile equivalent of SPF, measuring how much UV radiation a fabric blocks.
- AATCC Test Method 183: the industry-standard laboratory test for UPF certification.
- Millinery: the craft of designing and making hats.
- Parasisal / Toquilla: traditional natural straw fibers used in luxury hats; fragile and non-packable.
- Packability: the ability of a hat to be folded, rolled, or crushed without permanent damage.
- UVA / UVB: the two forms of ultraviolet radiation responsible for skin aging (UVA) and sunburn/skin cancer (UVB).
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Conclusion: What is Squishee?
To recap, what is SquisheeÂŽ?
It is the patented synthetic weave that redefined what a luxury sun hat can do: fully packable, certified UPF 50+, water-resistant, and lightweight enough to wear from morning to night without fatigue.
For travelers, outdoor professionals, and anyone who treats sun protection as a daily practice rather than an afterthought, SquisheeÂŽ is the rare material that refuses to compromise between style and performance.
It looks like fine straw. It acts like technical sportswear. And it lasts for years.Â
If you're choosing based on coverage, brim shape, and wearability, explore more sun protection hats.
If you have ever wondered what is SquisheeÂŽ and whether the hype is warranted, the answer lies in a single real-world test: pack one in your suitcase, fly across the world, pull it out on arrival, and watch it spring back into perfect shape, ready for the sun.
FAQs About What is SquisheeÂŽ?
What is SquisheeÂŽ exactly?
SquisheeÂŽ is a patented, fine-weave synthetic fabric invented by designer Eric Javits. It looks like fine hand-woven straw but is packable, water-resistant, lightweight, and certified UPF 50+.
Is SquisheeÂŽ a natural material?
No. SquisheeÂŽ is made from recycled synthetic fibers, which is what allows it to be crushable, water-resistant, and fully UV-blocking, properties natural straw cannot match.
Is SquisheeÂŽ eco-friendly?
SquisheeÂŽ is produced from recycled synthetic fibers, and because each hat lasts for many seasons rather than one, the long-term environmental footprint per wear is lower than that of short-lived fast-fashion sun hats.
Can you get a SquisheeÂŽ hat wet?
Yes. SquisheeÂŽ is water-resistant and retains its UPF 50+ rating even when damp. Let it air dry and reshape by hand if needed.
Is SquisheeÂŽ really UPF 50+ certified?
Yes. Each SquisheeÂŽ fabric batch is independently tested using the AATCC Test Method 183, which is the accepted standard used by dermatologists and the Skin Cancer Foundation.
