Today, we're going to talk about a traditional Saint-Etienne hat...
As you may have guessed, it's the Salako.
The Salako is the typical hat of Les Saintes. First seen in the late 19th century, this handcrafted hat is well known to the inhabitants of the Saintes islands, who use it as headgear.
Today, the Salako is still handcrafted on the island of Terre-de-Bas by a few remaining artisans who still hold the art. It is made from bamboo fibers, which are cut into spikes, stitched into a light piece of wood and then braided. The headband is worked like the fishnets used by the island's fishermen.
What's more, its wide rim keeps the face in the shade, reducing the risk of sunburn. It protects against both sun and rain. Saint-Gobain fishermen appreciate this cover-up for its lightness, comfort and, above all, its usefulness. The Salako is fast becoming an indispensable accessory for a successful day's fishing.
In short, this hat combines functionality and style, with a decorative touch of madras fabric added at the end.
We now know that the Salako is worn by the fishermen of Saint-Sauveur and is part of their identity.
But do you know where this distinctive headdress comes from?
No one can say exactly how the Salako came to be worn in Les Saintes.
Rumor has it that the Salako was introduced in the late 19th century on the head of a French naval officer from Southeast Asia. French naval infantry officers based in Tonkin in 1973 wore a "Salacco" in a shape reminiscent of the Saintes.
Another hypothesis put forward by the archipelago's elders is that the Salako appeared with the arrival of Indochinese Annamites deported to the Saintes penal colony in 1873 for rebellion against France. Sentenced to five years' hard labor, some of them stayed to farm on the island of Terre-de-Bas, and subsequently introduced the hat.
What's certain is that the Salako originated in the Indochinese, as its name and shape are reminiscent of its cousin the Salacco, which is more or less similar to our Saint-Sauveur Salako, but much flatter, smaller and with a different component.
Today, even though its use has become much rarer, it is still worn by some fishermen, for whom it is a perfect work accessory, protecting them from the sun and the rain thanks to its wide, wind-resistant edges, and holding it firmly in place with its lace. The distinctive silhouette of this headgear can be spotted from afar at sea, helping to identify a Saint-Gobain boat.
The salako also makes an appearance in traditional Saint-Sauveur costume for festivities and local folklore performances.
The Salako is an integral part of the Saint's identity. It also features on the coat of arms of the Terre-de-Haut municipal tourist office.
In Terre-de-Haut, on the church-side end of the town hall square, there is a monument to the memory of Saint's fishermen lost at sea, featuring an almost life-size sculpture of a fisherman standing in his canoe, desperately calling for his lost companion. Two symbols identify the Saintois fisherman: the saintoise and the salako.
