My Late Dad’s Hat….. what do I do?

[ImNunTheWiser]

So, bit of an odd one, I’ll admit…
My DF died, coming up for, three years ago. He wore a Panama hat for years, it epitomised him. When he died, my stepmum gave it to me. No one is going to wear it so it’s just sitting there, getting dusty and (as it’s essentially straw) probably slowly rotting. I feel I need/should do something about it, but what? If one of the grandchildren said they’d wear it, that’d be perfect, but despite how random they are in terms of attire, it’s not going to happen. So what do I do? I thought get someone to do a painting of it, so when it eventually keels over, we have something easier to display as a tribute. But I’m not sure because if I did that, I’d still have to dispose of the actual hat, and that feels wrong.
Any ideas?

So kind of like this, where the artist uses real straw in the painting, you could use the straw from the hat on the painted hat. I hope this makes sense!

You could have him cloned from the dna left on it 😉

This. Why not just put up a hook and use it as decor?

Could you see if you can find a milliner to restore it, and treat it in a way to preserve it? (Or contact the BBC Repair Shop?).

Ok next good idea. Take a photo of yourself in it holding a photo of your dad. Say goodbye to the hat. Give the hat away and stick the photo on the wall. Don't keep a bit of the hat.

Two ideas and instructions here to make a sweet little basket and/or a frame for a mirror.

I’d just hang it on a coat hook or nail on the wall

Put a photo of it on your local Facebook page (or similar) with an explanation of your predicament. There may be someone desperate for a similar hat and would actually wear it, so you can at least know it’s going to good use?

Sympathies though - I have quite a few sentimental items which I don’t really want, but find it very hard to let go.

Thank you everyone, some good ideas. And sympathies to those who find themselves in the same position ❤️

😂