History of the Panama Hat — Brent Black Panama Hats The Panama Hat—Fashion Phenomenon The Fall from Fashion Favor Myths, Legends, and Lore of the Panama Hat 1. Why Is a Hat from Ecuador Called a “Panama” Hat? You’ve probably heard the old saying that the three most important factors in retail success are location, location, and location. Now imagine your location is Ecuador in the mid-1800’s. You have straw hats you want to sell. It doesn’t take long to notice that Ecuador is not a very busy corner. Not much walk-by traffic. Even today, Ecuador is not a major tourist or commercial destination. Nor does it have a lot of people passing through on their way to somewhere else. So you scratch your head and try to figure out how you’re going to find customers for your hats. You look at a map and notice that just a few hundred miles north, a relatively short boat trip away, is Panama. In the 1800’s Panama was part of what is now Colombia. Then, Colombia was called New Granada. Unlike Ecuador, Panama is a very busy corner, with lots of walk-by traffic.

Panama is the narrowest point of land separating the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans anywhere from the Arctic Circle to the southern tip of South America. Before air travel, anyone on the East Coast of Canada or the U.S. who wanted to go to the West Coast (or vice versa) had three choices: (1) travel overland, (2) take a ship around the tip of South America, (3) take a ship to Panama, cut across the isthmus, and get another ship on the other side. Option number three was the fastest, and probably the least hazardous, of the choices. So, clever businessperson that you are, you take your hats to Panama to sell them. People like your hats. There is a reasonable amount of traffic. Business is good. Then gold is discovered in California and the number of people passing through Panama explodes exponentially. You say the 1849 equivalent of “Woo-hoo!” Business is very good. Your strong, lightweight, attractive, straw hats are much in demand.

They are perfect for deflecting the tropical sun of Panama, just the thing for those long days many are about to spend outdoors in sunny California getting rich panning for gold, and they’re even nice to have on a summer day in Philadelphia or Boston. People on their way to the gold fields buy your hats. People returning home from the gold fields buy your hats. And when your customers arrive at their destinations, an oft-heard comment is “Nice hat. Where’d you get it?” The response is, of course, “Panama.” You neglected to put Made in Ecuador stickers inside all the hats, so the inevitable result is that the hats are called “Panama” hats. Great. Ecuador’s most famous export is called a “Panama” hat. People in Ecuador hate that. A second major contributor to the misnomer was the Panama Canal. Canal workers often wore the hats, which showed up pretty well in black-and-white news photos of the day. One photo, made on November 16, 1906, is often credited as the origin of both the name and the fashion.

The photograph showed President Theodore Roosevelt wearing a black-banded straw hat as he sat at the controls of a ninety-five-ton Bucyrus steam shovel during a three-day inspection tour of the Panama Canal excavation. The picture was widely published in the U.S., and around the world, prompting much comment on the President’s “Panama” hat. Other accounts give part of the credit to ship passengers going through the canal, a love affair, and a revolution. Which is the “true” explanation? They are all true. And no doubt each is at least partly why a hat from Ecuador is called a Panama hat. 2. Panama Hat Weaving in Ecuador—A Tale of Two Cities The Tomebamba River runs through the lovely colonial city of Cuenca. On most days local women do the family laundry along the river banks. © B. Brent Black Montecristi and Cuenca (kwayn-ka) are the two cities. They are the two primary centers of Panama hat production and export in Ecuador. Montecristi is on the coast. Cuenca is in the Andes Mountains. Better hats come from Montecristi. More hats come from Cuenca.

When Francisco Pizarro and his Spanish conquistadors arrived in what is now Ecuador in 1526, inhabitants of the coastal areas were already wearing a curious type of headwear made of woven straw. Indeed, ceramic figures dating back to 4000 B.C. appear to be wearing a similar style of headwear. The almost brimless hats worn by 16th century Ecuadorians resembled a Spanish hat style of the time called a toque. Consequently, the Spaniards in Ecuador began to refer to the straw from which the hats were woven as toquilla straw, or paja toquilla. As you might expect, Ecuadorians themselves do not call their hats Panama hats. In Ecuador, the hats are sombreros de paja toquilla, or “hats of toquilla straw.” Beginning in the early to mid-1600’s hat weaving evolved as a cottage industry all along the Ecuadorian coast. Hat weaving and wearing grew steadily in Ecuador through the 17th and 18th centuries. Even then, the best quality hats were being made in what is now the province of Manabí (mahn-ah-bee).

The Manabí towns of Montecristi and Jipijapa (hee-pee-ha-pa) gained pre-eminence as the leading centers of the emerging hat industry. Hats woven there gained a reputation for being better quality, finer, than hats woven elsewhere. “Montecristis” and “Jipijapas,” as the hats were sometimes called, were increasingly more sought after than hats with lesser provenance. PHOTO LEFT: The Catholic church in Montecristi is its most prominent landmark. The statue is of Eloy Alfaro, native son of Montecristi, first elected President of Ecuador, and a major player in establishing Montecristi as the place “Panama” hats come from. © B. Brent Black To this day, in Yucatan State of Mexico, which has developed its own thriving Panama hat industry, hats woven of toquilla straw are more often called “jipijapas” than Panamas. No one I spoke with knew that the name had originated from the small town in Manabí Province, Ecuador. To the south of Yucatan, in Belize, a young boy offered me some small baskets woven of a kind of straw that looked surprisingly familiar.

I asked what the baskets were made of. He answered “Cheepeechoppa.” No doubt this was a corruption of jipijapa. Jipijapa Town Hall in 1912 Two events occurred in the 1830’s that would change Ecuador’s hat industry forever. In 1835, Manuel Alfaro emigrated from Spain to Ecuador. He settled in Montecristi and launched himself in the hat business. He organized production better than anyone had previously by developing a large network of weavers and other artisans necessary to the making and finishing of the hats, and by creating a smooth-flowing production system. His goal—export. Soon, his hats were leaving the port cities of Guayaquil and Manta, bound for Panama. He established a company in Panama that traded in hats, cacao, and pearls. As noted in the previous section, he had chosen his location well and fortune favored him with the California gold rush, which dramatically increased traffic in Panama as well as demand for his hats. Alfaro sold his hats in Panama and exported them from Panama to other countries, especially the United States. By 1850, the U.S.

had developed quite an appetite for woven straw hats from Ecuador/Panama, buying two hundred twenty thousand of them per year. Alfaro’s son, Eloy, entered the family business and guided it to even greater heights. As noted in The Panama Hat Trail , by Tom Miller © National Geographic, Eloy Alfaro used proceeds from hat sales to help finance the Great Liberal Revolution in Ecuador. The revolution was a success and Eloy Alfaro was twice appointed President of Ecuador. Naturally, others besides Alfaro helped to expand hat production in Manabí and elsewhere along the coast to meet the ever-growing demand. A family of weavers in Montecristi, 1912 In 1836, Cuenca declared itself in the hat business. Officials there decided to open a hat factory in order to boost the local economy by capturing a share of the rapidly increasing export market. Within a few years, their workshop was making hats and training anyone who was willing to learn. In 1845, Don Bartolome Serrano dramatically speeded up the development of the Cuenca hat industry by taking a more comprehensive approach to the task at hand.

He went to the coast and set up straw supply lines from the largest toquilla-growing areas. He bought thousands of wooden hat forms, all the tools of the trade, bleaching powder, even weavers. He hired master weavers from Manabí and brought them to Cuenca. Serrano and others in the Cuenca hat industry exercised their considerable political influence, and soon apprenticeship in hat making was compulsory throughout Azuay Province. Adults as well as children were required to learn the trade. Failure to do so could result in prison time. With this kind of “incentive,” the hat industry grew by leaps and bounds, by brims and crowns. Soon, hat making was one of the most profitable and powerful economic activities in the region. Some reports claim that there was no law that sent people to prison if they did not weave. They maintain that weavers were recruited from prisons and that was how the rumor started. Sorting hats at the old Ortega factory in Cuenca One of the largest exporters in Cuenca today is Serrano Hat. They say they are the same company that was started by Don Bartolome Serrano and are, therefore, the oldest hat company in Ecuador.

Their competitors say they are not the same company, not the same Serranos, and not the oldest. As noted in the section Grades of Quality of Panama Hats the exporters in Cuenca do not agree on how to grade a Panama hat either. Nor will they work together for their mutual benefit, to protect and expand the Panama hat market overall. I have tried on several occasions to persuade the three largest exporters to unite around a common goal. No luck at all. Interestingly, each company claims to fully support the goal while assuring me that the other two will not support it. So, if they all support the goal, why will no one work to achieve it? My biggest problem with the Cuenca dealers is that they routinely sell Cuenca hats as “Montecristi” hats. The largest, K. Dorfzaun, agrees that the practice is wrong. But they all have to yield to European and US customer demands that they label the hats as “Montecristi” hats. If they do not do as asked, they will lose the order to a neighboring competitor who will. Even an exporter who wants to end the practice cannot. All of them are struggling to stay profitable. No one can risk losing business.

I have been working to take the decision out of their hands. The Montecristi Foundation filed a formal legal action in Ecuador applying for Denomination of Origin status for “Montecristi” hats. I want “Montecristi” protected for hats as Bordeaux is protected for wines. The foundation filed the action on behalf of The Artisans Association of Montecristi . Our case has attracted the attention of the World Intellectual Property Organization , part of the UN, and the most important international group for these things. They sent an inspector to Montecristi to see how the hats are made and if they qualify for such protection. The inspector issued a favorable report supporting our application. The governmental agency in Ecuador that will make the decision is the IEPI. They also sent an inspector. A favorable ruling would mean that the Cuenca exporters can no longer sell Cuenca hats as Montecristi hats. If they want to sell Montecristi hats, they have to sell real Montecristi hats. That means they have to buy real Montecristi hats. All over Ecuador, street vendors and stores sell Cuenca hats with balsa boxes declaring the hat to be a Montecristi hat.

There are more Cuenca hats sold every year that are falsely called Montecristi hats than there are real Montecristi hats sold. This is a primary reason why hat weaving is dying in Montecristi. I believe that if I can effectively end large scale misrepresentation of non-Montecristi hats as Montecristi hats, then the art can be saved. As long as the global market demand for Montecristi hats can be openly satisfied with cheaper counterfeits then the real art of Montecristi will continue to decline. If that market demand can be met only with real Montecristi hats, then demand for true Montecristi hats will increase dramatically. That’s the plan. We’ll see. Cesar Vicuña and wife Okay, back to the history. Weavers in the town of Biblián, near Cuenca, developed their art to a higher degree than the other weavers of the region. Hats from Biblián actually began to rival those from Montecristi and Jipijapa for quality and fineness.

In 1988, I went to Biblián to find Cesar Vicuña, a weaver mentioned in Tom Miller’s book, The Panama Hat Trail. I found Sr. Vicuña, Master Weaver of Biblián, beneath a tree sleeping off the joys of a substantial quantity of caña, a very raw local cane liquor. He seemed not to mind having his nap disturbed and guided me back to his house where I examined and purchased several of his hats. They were, indeed, as finely woven as any I had seen in Montecristi. The straw, however, had not been as well cared for and bleached. The hats were darker and less uniform in color than those from Montecristi. In comparison, they looked almost “dirty.” I took the hats back to Cuenca, hoping to find someone to finish them for me. They still had six-inch-long straw hanging from the unfinished brim edges. My two hats from Sr. Vicuña caused quite a stir in Cuenca. Their fineness of weave attracted a great deal of attention everywhere I showed them. TO BE CONTINUED…Sorry, the rest isn’t finished yet.

I thought it would be better to let you read what is finished, rather than hold everything until I have time to do it all. BBB Coming soon (I hope) ::: Panama Hat ::: The panama hats as called nowadays are made out of palm straws (paja toquilla). The name of Panama hat does not come from the place of origin of these hats, which are Ecuador Manabi and Montecristi. There is no way to tell how many products such as the Panama-hat are out there? The controversy of this particular product roots out from its name. In order to present a brief background on this particular, artisan and cultural products it is necessary to explore some of the stories that date approximately 300 years. During the 1700s the main ports of trade for the products (Panama Hats) coming from South America were the ports located in the Isthmus of Panama. Still prior to the construction of the canal, it was a strategic point because of the connection it offers between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific and as well to be located in the nexus between South America and the North.

In the 1800s, gold seekers from the East picked up some hats on their way to the West, and picked up some of them on their way back to the East Coast. The same thing happened during the construction of the Panama Canal. These hats are fresh and allow air to come in, because they are woven hats, and also do a really good job blocking the sun, which is ideal for workers in Central America where they get plenty of heat and sunshine. The name stuck since than. Later on, this type of hats became well know when heads of states and Hollywood celebrities started to wear them. The Ecuadorian Panama Hats are still hand made by indigenous people in the location of Montecristi in the province of Manabi. The production of these hats has developed and has extended to the city of Cuenca that is a trade center greater than Montecristi. The Ecuadorian Government especially Corporación de Promoción de Exportaciones e Inversiones (CORPEI) is trying to promote these types of artisan work and especially the Panama Hat due to that the hats are hard to imitate in terms of production and it also represents a strong cultural value of the Ecuador.

The Embassy of Ecuador has some hats that are in exhibition in the main hall of the Embassy. And there are several articles published very recently about the topic. One of the key issue is to consider the same name of the hat and find out what ahs been done to correct this mistake made for over more than 200 years now and what are the possibilities of changes being made. The trade aspect of this product shows that the products from Ecuador entering US post have been increasing considerably. Related Cases: Some of the related cases that were found are the case by Christina Kibler on Fair-trade The topic is not directly related to the issue of panama hats and the trade of the same, but talks about the fair the changing market system caused by the e-commerce and the protection and adjustment that emerging markets as Ecuador should implement. The panama hats are no exceptions to this phenomenon. The production of the hats is somehow protected due to the particular and unique process, but once the product is finished the commercialization of the product should adequate to the changing system. Other related cases that could be considered as related to the Panama Hats is the case of the cashmere by Theresa Purcell (May 1996).

She comments on the quality of the British cashmere and how due to the shortage of cashmere produced by Britain the market is being overtaken by different producers of similar products. The Panama Hats is a product that runs the same risk. The quality of the hat and the production process is hard to imitate, but if the demand for such hat increases and the Ecuadorian producers are not able to meet the demand for these hats the market and the source of supply for these hats will also shift to a different place. The protection of the product, not by tariffs or quotas, but through adjusting the commercialization of the same to the changing global system is an important step that the private sector as well as the government should consider. PANAMA HAT SHOP: The History of the Panama Hat, the Montecristi and Cuenca origin - PANAMA HAT SHOP 16th Century – The First Panama Hat When the Spanish Conquistadores reached the coast of Ecuador, where the provinces of Guayas and Manabi are located today, they recorded the native indians wearing straw hats that covered their ears and their necks. These hats looked like the headdresses worn by nuns and widows back in Europe which were called "Tocas" in Spanish.

So the hats were called "toquillas" or "little headdresses" and the straw was referred to as "toquilla" straw. Soon, the Spaniards themselves started wearing hats of the same material themselves. 17th Century - The Montecristi Hat Spanish colonialist used native labor to produce European style hats, replacing the traditional Toquillas that covered ears and neck. Skilled weavers were located in the towns of Jipijapa and Montecristi (Manabi Province) and soon these villages turned into hat weaving centers and named their hats after their towns. Until today, the Montecristi Hat is recognized as the finest in panama hats. 18th Century – Scientific Name was defined Spaniards started to use Toquilla Straw Hats and they became popular with the colonial nobility. Soon, the King of Spain ordered several bolts of toquilla straw for his wife.

Botanist discovered that the straw that was used to weave the hats came from a palm species that only grows in the coast of Ecuador, between 100 and 400 meters over sea level, and they gave the palm the scientific name of Carludovica Palmeta in honor to the King Charles IV of Spain and his wife Ludovica. 1835 – First Modern Hat Business After Ecuador gained independence from Spain, an entrepreneur called Manuel Alfaro settled in Montecristi in 1835 and established a hat production business using his own straw plantations and hiring skilled weavers. His business went well and soon he started exporting to Panama, since it was becoming an important commercial center. Later on he opened shops in Panama, which attracted the attention of buyers from around the world, who soon associated this Ecuadorian product with the country of Panama. 1836 – 1845 – The Cuenca Hat In 1836, the city of Cuenca in the southern highland province of Azuay opened a hat factory in attempt to boost the local economy.

Cuenca Hats differ from Montecristi hats essentially in the thickness (weaving time) and the color (bleaching) of the straw. Authorities established a modern workshop with plenty of wooden hat blocks, bleaching powder, tools and toquilla straw that was brought from plantations of the coast. Some master weavers were brought from Manabi to live in Cuenca and training was given to anyone who was willing to learn. Soon, the hat industry in Cuenca became one of the most powerful economic activities in the region. 1848 – The Gold Rush In 1848 the Gold Rush began and people rushed to California by the easiest way in that time: crossing the Isthmus of Panama. While passing through, they often bought hats on their way and spread the word about Panama Hats in the USA. Eloy Alfaro, son of Manuel Alfaro and later the President of Ecuador, took over the family business and in 1849 Ecuador exported 220.000 hats to California.

1855 – World Fair in Paris A Frenchman who lived in Panama exhibited the hats at the 1855 World Fair in Paris and since Ecuador was not mentioned as a participating country the hats were baptized as "Panama Hats". The French fashion soon adopted the Panama Hat and even Emperor Napoleon III wore a Montecristi Hat spreading the trend to other European countries. In Great Britain, the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) also became a Panama Hat aficionado. 1863 – 1898 Export Expansion Ecuador continues to export panama hats to the USA and Europe but expands its market to South America, the Caribbean and especially Cuba, where hats were highly needed for the workers of the sugar and tobacco plantations and huge amount of hats were bought every year. 1898 – Spanish American War The US Government bought 50,000 hats to protect its soldiers from the intense sun of the Caribbean during the Spanish American War. 1906 – The Panama Canal Construction During the Panama Canal Construction many hats were bought for all the US workers and engineers that arrived in Panama.

The popularity rose all over the world when a photograph of President Theodore Roosevelt wearing a stylish Montecristi hat during a visit to the canal, appeared in the world press. As a curious fact, in 1925, Turkey's modernization laws banned wearing the traditional fez and forced the use of Panama Hats. 1944 – Hollywood Golden Age The Panama Hat exports reached its peak during 1944 when it became Ecuador`s number one export item, also due to a decline of the cocoa exports. One of the main reasons for the sales to boom was the effect of the Hollywood Golden Age, many stars wore panama hats on and off screen popularizing the use of the stylish panama. The Panama Hat appeared in movies such as Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, Key Largo, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Man Who Would Be King. The History of the Panama Hat The History of the Panama Hat by Kate Walker + Did you know that the Panama Hat originated in Ecuador? Or that its roots have been traced back to as early as the 1800s?

Long before this stylish summer staple was gracing the heads of celebrities and prominent public features, it was aiding American troops, helping with the construction of the Panama Canal, and helping boost the Ecuadorian economy. Want to know more? Read on for a brief history of the often imitated, never replicated Panama Hat. Early Days Despite their name, Panama hats trace their origins back to Ecuador and the genuine ones continue to be made there to this day. Back in the 1800s, prospectors would scoop up these hats in Panama en route to California for the gold rush but it wasn’t until the Spanish American War that the hats reached peak popularity when the U.S. government purchased 50,000 of them for their troops. Can you imagine how stylish they must have looked? So if they originated and are made in Ecuador, why are they called Panama hats? Thanks to their popularity in Panama, people began associating the hat with the country and the rest is, as they say, history. Construction Despite their simple design, there’s a lot of work that goes into the manufacturing of a Panama hat.

In order to make the real deal, you need toquilla, a tall, palm-type plant that produces straw that’s conducive to weaving. Once the toquilla has been harvested (preferably at the point in the lunar cycle when it is drier, thus allowing it to be easily manipulated), craftsmen weave the straw into the lightweight toppers that we know and love. The art of weaving Panama hats is so respected that in 2012, it was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Typically, the higher quality Panama hats boast the most weave per square inch. A grading system exists by which to judge the quality of the hat’s weave with only the rare few able to attain the covetable title of Montecristis. These days, there remain only a handful of weavers able to create Montecristis hats. As a result, the wares produced by these artists are a very hot commodity. Popularity and Recognition In 1906, mainstream America caught on to the Panama trend after a photograph of President Roosevelt was published, depicting him surveying the construction of the Panama Canal wearing one of the eponymous chapeaus.

Since then, scores of high-profile celebrities and public figure have donned the hat, making its presence constant throughout the decades. In 1985, the Conrad Foundation chose the Panama to be part of the “100 best designs ever” collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Their fascinating history and exquisite craftsmanship make Panama Hats a must have for every summer wardrobe. Pick one up and not only will you look amazing, you’ll be wearing a piece that bears important historical and cultural significance. How many hats can offer you that? The Panama Hat Company - The history of the Panama Hat History of Panama Hats The Extraordinary Panama Hat By an unusual quirk of history, the Isthmus, linking North and South America, has given its name to an elegant head-dress known throughout the world as THE PANAMA HAT. At the turn of the century, the men whose strength and fortitude, tested under a tropical sun, sliced the continent in two, used as protection the elegant fibre hats from Ecuador, and in so doing inadvertently "christened" them with a name which belies their origin. For Ecuador, this has been a mixed blessing.

That the canal was responsible for the Panama's great popularity in the early part of the century is without question. But, in that it has created confusion concerning its origin has ever since been lamented by its true creator and only country of origin and manufacture, Ecuador. Paja Toquilla, indigenous to the coastal regions of Ecuador, is the plant from which Panamas are woven. Their history can be traced as far back as the Incas who were the first to weave hats from this fibrous plant. Such hats were first observed in the 16th century. In the 18th century they found their way into the United States where their superior qualities were quickly appreciated and where they have been much sort after ever since. During the American-Spanish war (1898), the US Government ordered from Ecuador 50,000 "sombreros de paja toquilla", as they are correctly called, for their troops heading for the Caribbean. But earlier, in 1855, a Frenchman living in Ecuador took some to the World Exposition in Paris. The finest was presented to the great French dandy, Napoleon III.

From that time on, the "toquilla" has reigned supreme over the crowed heads of Europe. In England, much encouraged by royal patronage, The Panama quickly attained the enviable position as the most fashionable summer hat: a position it has retained to the present day. "One hundred pounds for a Panama, enough with which to take three month's holiday: enough to keep your son at college, enough to buy a small farm..."So proclaimed the writer of an article in the Strand Magazine in 1902 when describing the phenomenon of the Panama craze that had hit society at that time. What would the equivalent price be today? Or why were such sums paid for a mere hat? Even Edward VII parted with £ 90.00 after asking his Bond Street hatter to obtain the "finest Panama available!" It was a craze that was given a further boost in 1906 when President Theodore Roosevelt was photographed wearing one when viewing the Panama Canal under construction. Although its popularity waned in the post-war period, it is today enjoying a remarkable return. Its revival has been attributed to its appearance in the period films and television series reminding us just how elegant and good looking the Panama Hat can be.

It has also featured in television commercials thus increasing people's awareness of its attractiveness. Another interesting aspect of its history is the tradition of the black band with which the majority of Panamas are trimmed. This originates from its most popular period in 1901, the year of the death of Queen Victoria. The Panama Hat was selected by the Conrad Foundation for the 1985 Boilerhouse Project at the Victoria and Albert Museum, as one of the "100 best designs ever". A belated accolade for one Francisco Delgado who is credited with having originated the Panama Hat in the Manabi district of Ecuador in the 17th century. Locally, his name is still revered. Another name synonymous with fine quality Panamas is Montecristi, a small town in Ecuador where to this day the finest quality Panama Hats are still woven. Let us hope that the new-found popularity of The Panama Hat, which in the coming season is expected to be greater still, will benefit those skilled custodians of such a wonderful, historic and truly ancient craft.

Sign up for our newsletter Name Panama Hats | DelMonico Hatter DelMonico Caprice Panama Hat Price: $170.00 The DelMonico Caprice is a very high quality Grade 8 Panama. Patiently hand woven in Ecuador and skillfully finished in the USA, this hat has a broad 2 3/4" brim for sun protection. Speciall ... Read more » DelMonico Kevin Panama Hat Price: $115.00 DelMonico Kevin Genuine Panama Hat- Handwoven in Ecuador, Straw hats are ideal for keeping the sun at bay while still looking stylish, and the DelMonico Wide Brim panama hat is an excellent choi ... Read more » DelMonico Skip Genuine Panama Hat Price: $115.00 DelMonico Skip Genuine Panama Hat- For the kind of straw hat you can wear every day and keep it looking great, look no further than the DelMonico Skip. This 100% genuine panama straw fedora is a ... Read more » DelMonico Taylor Panama Hat Price: $165.00 The DelMonico Taylor Panama Hat is a smooth, sleek genuine panama straw hat with classic lines.

The teardrop shaped crown is a traditional look, and the 2 1/2 inch brim is wired at the edge so it ... Read more » Pantropic Classic Fedora Panama Hat Price: $92.50 Pantropic Classic Panama Hat is hand-woven and blocked to the fedora shape in Ecuador. This hat has a tight, soft weave, a 3" brim and a pinch crown. The Pantropic Classic Fedora Panama Ha ... Read more » Pantropic Havana Panama Hat Price: $92.50 The look of Old Havana. Pantropic Havana Panama Hat is hand-woven and blocked in Ecuador. The hat is trimmed and finished in the USA. It has a small 2" brim and a black 1 1/2" hat ba ... Read more » Borsalino Short Brim Panama Hat Price: $220.00 The Borsalino Short Brim Panama Fedora is a beautiful genuine Panama straw hat hand woven in Ecuador and finished in Italy. This smaller 1 3/4 inch brim hat has an expertly formed center dent fed ...

Read more » DelMonico Panama Hat - Retro Style Price: $127.50 This is a Genuine Panama Hat hand-woven in Ecuador and blocked in the United States especially for DelMonico Hatter. The panama hat is a grade 6 quality and has a very nice feel and finish. Thi ... Read more » Stetson Centerdent Panama Hat - 2 3/4" Brim Price: $155.00 Stetson Genuine Panama Hat hand-woven in Equador and blocked in the US by Stetson. Black silk grosgrain band. Pinch-front crown. A fine mellow classic natural color panama hat that can be used fo ... Read more » DelMonico Sanibel Panama Hat Price: $142.50 The DelMonico Sanibel is a Genuine Grade 8 Panama hand-woven in Ecuador and blocked in the United States especially for DelMonico Hatter. The hat is a bleached white color with a tear-drop crown ... Read more » Lock & Co. Folder Optimo Panama Hat Price: $375.00 The Lock & Co.

Folder Optimo Panama is a handsome optimo style hat made from the finest quality panama straw, hand-woven in Ecuador and finished in London. This folder optimo features a ridged 5 ... Read more » Sale Price: $280.00 Price: $350.00 The DelMonico Cuenca Extrafino Panama by Tesi is a beautiful example of the finest quality of straw hats available today. The extrafino panama straw, hand woven in Ecuador using centuries-old tec ... Read more » DelMonico Bahia Panama Fedora by Tesi- 2 1/2 Brim Price: $187.50 The DelMonico Bahia Panama Fedora by Tesi is a fine grade 7 quality genuine panama hat, hand woven in Ecuador by skilled artisans and formed into a classic centerdent fedora shape in a clean, nat ... Read more » DelMonico Islander Panama Hat Price: $130.00 The DelMonico Islander is a Genuine Grade 6 Panama Hat. The panama hat was hand-woven in Ecuador and the hat was manufactured in the USA. This is a great hat to wear in warm weather. It is per ...

Read more » Borsalino Quenca Fino Panama Hat - Med. Brim Price: $295.00 Borsalino Quenca Fino Quality Panama Hat is a bleached panama hat hand-woven in Ecuador. The hat is manufactured in Italy by the world-famous hat maker, Borsalino. The medium width brim on this ... Read more » Sale Price: $147.50 Price: $167.50 DelMonico Agua Panama Fedora by Monterrey- The DelMonico Agua Panama Fedora by Monterrey is a beautiful hat hand-woven in Colombia from fine quality toquilla palm. The tight and smooth weave is w ... Read more » Sale Price: $249.50 Price: $295.00 DelMonico Suaza Panama Fedora by Monterrey - The DelMonico Suaza Panama Fedora by Monterrey is a beautiful hat hand-woven in Colombia from fine quality toquilla palm. The exceptionally tight and ...

Read more » Borsalino Quenca Fino Panama Hat - Wide Brim Price: $295.00 Borsalino Quenca Fino Quality Panama Hat is a bleached panama hat hand-woven in Ecuador. The hat was manufactured in Italy by the world-famous hat maker, Borsalino. The brim width on this hat i ... Read more » Stetson Retro Panama Hat Price: $61.95 The Stetson Retro is a Genuine Panama Hat hand-woven in Ecuador. This hat has a 2 3/8" brim and a black grosgrain hat band. The panama hat has the summer straw hat pinch in the crown. Thi ... Read more » Borsalino Wide Brim Panama Fedora Price: $220.00 The Borsalino Wide Brim Panama Fedora is a beautiful genuine Panama straw hat hand woven in Ecuador and finished in Italy. This hat, just under 3 inches wide, has an expertly formed center dent f ... Read more » Stetson Open Road Shantung Hat Price: $59.95 Open Road is a popular Stetson shape worn by ranchers and presidents.

We used to call it the LBJ hat. Material is smooth shantung with a 2 3/4" brim. The hat has an interior sweatband and ... Read more » Stetson Airway Panama Hat Price: $69.95 The Stetson Airway is a Genuine Panama Hat hand-woven in Ecuador. The color of the panama hat is natural. The hat has a leather hat band and a leather chin strap. The brim width is 3" and ... Read more » DelMonico Twisted Panama Downbrim Hat Price: $125.00 The DelMonico Twisted Panama Downbrim Hat is the perfect hat for adventure. A classic centerdent crown and simple black grosgrain hat band have a classic versatile look while the wider 2 3/4 inch ... Read more » Borsalino Medium Brim Panama Fedora Price: $220.00 The Borsalino Medium Brim Panama Fedora is a beautiful genuine Panama straw hat hand woven in Ecuador and finished in Italy. This 2 3/8 inch brim hat has an expertly formed center dent fedora cro ...

Read more » Sale Price: $183.75 Price: $245.00 The Barbisio Bianco Fino Panama Fedora is a handsome high quality genuine panama hat perfect for stepping out this summer. A centerdent crown and front pinch give the hat a classic look, and the ... Read more » Sale Price: $72.75 Price: $97.00 The Barbisio New Orleans Panama Fedora is a fashionable fedora with a teardrop shaped crown that slopes down slightly in back for a sleek look. Made of soft, flexible brisa quality panama straw, ... Read more » Sale Price: $127.50 Price: $150.00 The Bailey Thurman Panama Hat is a classic style centerdent panama straw fedora with a tight flexible weave and a handsome silhouette. A 2 3/8 inch pre-snapped brim shades the eyes while the simp ...

Read more » Scala Outback Panama Hat w/Leather Price: $95.63 The Scala Outback Panama Hat w/Leather is a genuine panama sraw hat in a traditional outback style with a sloped 3 inch brim and classic teardrop crown. A slim leather hat band adds a simple rugg ... Read more » Scala Open Crown Outback Panama Hat Price: $87.75 The Scala Open Crown Outback Panama Hat is a lightweight and breezy hat ideal for the warm weather. Made from genuine panama straw, this hat features a teardrop crown with open woven sides for co ... Read more » DelMonico New Mexico Panama Hat Price: $130.00 The DelMonico New Mexico Panama Hat is as practical as it is flattering. This handsome teardrop crown hat is made of genuine panama straw, woven in Ecuador and made in the USA. A wide 3 1/2 inch ... Read more » Stetson Breakers Shantung Hat Price: $179.95 The Stetson Breakers is a rich-feeling, firm finish shantung hat. Brim width is 2 1/2".

The hat has an interior leather sweatband and a protective interior crown lining. The crown shape is cen ... Read more » Sale Price: $117.30 Price: $138.00 Bailey Cutler is a soft 100% Genuine Panama Hat hand-woven in Ecuador with a center-dent pinch, graduated crown and a 2 7/8" pre-snapped brim. The Cutler has a tooled leather hat band and a ... Read more » Sale Price: $117.30 Price: $138.00 Bailey Brooks is a Genuine Panama Hat with a teardrop crown and a 2" downbrim. Brooks has a grosgrain hat band and an interior sweatband. This hat has a heavier body. Hand-woven in Ecuador a ... Read more » Christys' Wide Brim Safari Style Panama Hat Price: $167.50 Christys' of London Wide Brim Panama Hat is Grade 8 Quality. Hand woven in Ecuador this hat has a broad 3" brim for style and sun protection. The brim is Safari style worn turned down all ...

Read more » Scala Outback Panama Hat Price: $123.75 Scala Genuine Panama Hat hand-woven in Ecuador. This hat has a pinch crown with a 2 1/2" brim that is turned-down all the way around; Outback Style. An added feature is an interior crown t ... Read more » Scala Wide Brim Outback Panama Hat Price: $121.50 Scala Wide Brim Genuine Panama Hat hand-woven in Ecuador. This hat has a teardrop crown with a wide 2 7/8" brim that is turned-down all the way around; Outback Style. the wide brim will pr ... Read more » Scala Genuine Panama Hat Price: $123.75 Scala Genuine Panama Hat is hand-woven in Ecuador. This Best Selling Panama hat has a center-dent crown with a medium width 2 1/4" brim that is worn snapped-down in the front. An added fea ... Read more » Scala C-Crown Genuine Panama Hat Price: $123.75 Scala C-Crown Genuine Panama Hat is hand-woven in Ecuador.

This Best Selling Panama hat has a c-crown with a 2 5/8" brim that is worn snapped-down in the front and turned-up in the back. A ... Read more » Scala Safari Style Panama Hat Price: $123.75 Scala Safari Style Genuine Panama Hat is hand-woven in Ecuador. This Panama hat has a center pinch crown and a 2 3/8" brim that is worn turned-down all the way around. An added feature is ... Read more » Scala Gambler Style Panama Hat Price: $123.75 Scala Gambler Style Genuine Panama Hat is hand-woven in Ecuador. This Best Selling Panama hat has a telescope crown with a 3" brim that has a roll on the edge. The 3" brim with the ro ... Read more » Scala Panama Skimmer Hat Price: $130.50 Scala Genuine Panama Skimmer Hat. This is a lighter weight version of the traditional Skimmer Hat which is also called the Boater Hat (see below). Traditional Skimmer/Boater shape made in the th ...

Read more » Sale Price: $146.25 Price: $195.00 Stetson Monticello is an Extremely Fine Quality Shantung Hat - Included in the Stetson Premier Collection. Monticello is a very soft-feeling, Natural Panama hat. Brim measures slightly less than ... Read more » Christys' Outback Style Panama Hat Price: $192.50 Cristys' Grade 8 Panama Hat Hand-Woven in Ecuador, finished in the USA. Hat is Outback style with the 3" brim shaped down front and rear. There are ventilation holes on each side of the crow ... Read more » DelMonico Panama Telescope Hat Price: $130.00 DelMonico Panama Telescope Hat - Genuine Panama Hand-Woven in Ecuador. This Grade 6 Panama Hat is finished, blocked to shape, and trimed in the US. Crown is the popular telescope style measurin ... Read more » Sale Price: $637.50 Price: $750.00 The Bailey Montecristi Deep Dip Crown Panama Hat is a high quality finely woven panama straw fedora in a bright crisp white bleach color perfect for summer.

This beautiful hat has a flexible casu ... Read more » Scala Big Brim Gambler Panama Hat Price: $123.75 The Scala Big Brim Gambler Panama Hat is a genuine panama straw hat ideal for golf and other outdoor activities. With the classic gambler crown and a wide shady 3 3/4 inch brim, this hat is perfe ... Read more » Scala Wide Brim Panama Safari Hat Price: $123.75 The Scala Wide Brim Panama Safari Hat is a wider 2 3/4 inch brim version of the classic safari style genuine panama hat. Fine quality lightweight straw is coated in Teflon for durability and feat ... Read more » Pantropic Panama Player Hat Price: $87.50 Pantropic Panama Player is a Genuine Panama Hat is hand-woven in Ecuador. With its wide, 2 7/8" brim; this hat is great to wear on warm summer days. This brim is worn casual style, turned ... Read more » Pantropic Trinidad Panama Hat Price: $67.50 The Pantropic Trinidad hat is made from Genuine Panama Straw - Hand-Woven in Ecuador.

The color is natural and it has a 3 1/4" brim. The hat is trimmed with a Black Hat Band and an Interio ... Read more » Sale Price: $127.50 Price: $150.00 Bailey Sydney is a Genuine Panama Hat hand-woven in Ecuador and finished in the USA. Sydney; included in the Bailey Causal Straw hat Collection comes in several colors. The hat has a teardrop c ... Read more » Stetson Diamond Jim Straw Hat Price: $92.50 The Stetson Diamond Jim Straw Hat is the summer version of a Stetson classic! The Diamond Jim is a sleek shantung straw hat with a teardrop crown and 3 1/2 inch curled brim. Ringed with a braided ... Read more » Sale Price: $104.95 Price: $130.00 The Stetson Brewster Panama Fedora is a beautiful genuine panama fedora with a lot of style. A teardrop crown is a classic look with a front pinch, while the 2 1/4 inch brim is bound at the edge ...

Read more » Stetson Ibarra Panama Fedora Price: $295.00 The Stetson Ibarra Panama Fedora Hat is a beautiful hat for summertime. Lightweight Grade 20 genuine panama straw is tightly and expertly woven for a feel almost like fabric, soft and flexible. T ... Read more » Sale Price: $110.65 Price: $147.50 The Stetson Open Road Genuine Panama Hat is a beautiful summer update to the classic Stetson Open Road shape. Once known as the LBJ for its popularity with the president, this fine quality genuin ... Read more » Sale Price: $127.50 Price: $150.00 The Bailey Chaplin Bowler Hat is a brilliant warm weather version of the classic round crown derby. Made of lightweight panama straw with a flexible 2 inch bound edge brim, this hat features a wi ... Read more » Sale Price: $499.00 Price: $700.00 The Pantropic Montecristi Panama Fedora Hat is an exceptionally luxurious summer hat, made from the finest and tightest weave genuine panama straw for a feel almost like fabric.

Montecristi hats ... Read more » DelMonico Hatter Grade 20 Panama Fedora Hat Price: $265.00 The DelMonico Hatter Grade 20 Panama Fedora Hat is a superb summer straw hat perfect for any occasion. The classic centerdent fedora crown meets a flexible 2 1/2 inch brim with a wired edge to ke ... Read more » Sale Price: $170.00 Price: $200.00 The Bailey Roll Up Panama Hat is a convenient and classic genuine panama hat in a tight, flexible Brisa weave. A rounded optimo crown allows this handsome hat to be rolled up for easy packing, so ... Read more » Sale Price: $79.95 Price: $100.00 The Stetson Cornwall Panama Fedora is a traditionally designed fedora ideal for summer days. A 4 1/2 inch high teardrop crown meets a flattering 2 1/4 inch brim which can be snapped down or worn ...

Read more » Sale Price: $112.50 Price: $150.00 The Stetson Forty-Eight Panama Straw Fedora is a fashionable summer fedora with a vintage flavor. Made of tightly woven genuine panama straw, this hat has a classic 4 1/4 inch high teardrop crown ... Read more » Panama Hat | Panama Hats PANAMA HATS US Toll Free: 1(877)284-6850 The Panama Hat Panama Hats are famous worldwide for their lightness, durability, flexibility and comfort. All of these characteristics result from the materials used to weave the hat: the toquilla straw. Artisans in Ecuador carefully weave these straws into our Genuine Panama Hats . Panama Hat quality is measured by the tightness of this mesh, the higher the number of weaveï¿½s per square inch, the higher the quality of the hat. Today gamboa panama hats are popular among both men and women. Although there still is a larger variety of models of mens panama hats , new models and colors are continuously being designed for the ladies as well.

In our panama hats for women section for example, you will find hats in different types, styles and color tones to match your favorite garments for all sorts of occasions. Make sure to look for your panama gamboa hats . Panama Hat Models and Colors Favorite models and panama hat styles include: fedora , colonial, plantation, borsalino, gambler and diamond: Another always popular and classic is the montecristi panama hat , named after the city where it is hand woven , available in various models and grades. Hats are also classified by their brim. We offer both short and wide brim panama hat . These panamahat models are available in a range of colors including off white, white, green, blue, brown, purple and yellow. Coloured panama hats are a new trend, the classic panama hat was traditionally white or off white, we recommend the white panama hat women . Most panama hats are available for men and women. Montecristi Panama Hats Artisans in the town of Montecristi, Ecuador weave the top quality panama hats ( panama hat montecristi ).

The trade has been taught from father to son for centuries, resulting in hats that feel as fine as cloth. The folding panama hat is made in Montecristi. These montecristi hats are so flexible that the can be rolled and placed into a box (thus, they are also known as collapsible panama hats , foldable panama hats or Packable Panama Hat ). Panamahat com offers a divertity of panama hats Ecuador for all occasion and everyday activities. You can find your favorite panama hats uk that everyone loves to wear to special reunions with friends or the panama jack hat that gives a very casual look for the simple dresser. Other styles that are growing in popularity are the panama hats Melbourne . Hats which men like a lot and are always eye catching are the panama hats dallas since many love the look of old western movies but with a casual and more modern taste. How to Buy a Panama Hat The best panama hat for you is the basically the one you like the most or the one that suits your necessities at best according to the occasions you will be wearing it in. Our panama hat company offers many styles , colors and accessories to choose from.

A variety of collections, sets and great options for corporate gifts and souvenirs can be found at our panama hat shop . Our site offers tools to help you choose and buy panama hat . The first element to narrow you choice it the quality of the hats weave also known as the hat grade. The price of the hat depends on the number of threads per inch in the weave. You can find cheap panama hats in the low end of the hat grade. Our website routinely offers a discount panama hats sale . Sign up for our email news to receive special offers and discounts. PanamaHatMall Hat Selection We offer a large variety of panama hat styles and models for men and women. Our panama hats for men (also known as straw hats for men) are perfect for outdoor activities, trips and as an elegant summer accessory. One of our favorites is the white panama hat , a classic hat that can be worn to both casual and formal events.Our ladies panama hat has been featured in fashion magazines and blogs. These hats, sometimes referred to as panama jack hats . Our shop is a great place to find your panama hat online .

Panama Hat Accessories PanamaHatMall.com carries a full line of panama hat accessories including: panama hat bands , boxes to store roll up panama hats and pins. We also offer sets that include a box, a hat and bands. Browse through our accessories section to find the perfect accents and decorations for your panamahats to give them your personal touch of style. Why Shop at PanamaHatMall.com Looking for a genuine panama hat ? Our store is the place to find it. We carry over 200 different models of panama straw hats . Check our genuine panama hats for sale for specials that can save you up to 50% off the regular price. Howï¿½s that possible? When you shop with us you buy your panama hats direct from Ecuador. Want a premium panama montecristi ? Our premium section offers high end panama hats with the finest weaves. If you are interested in panama hats wholesale we can help you also, you just need to contact us and request a quote for the style and quantity of hats you need.

Montecristi Ecuador Montecristi Panama Hats Montecristi, Ecuador - In Montecristi, Ecuador live a handful of master weavers, the creators of the finest straw hats in the world "Montecristi Panama Hats". Hats so fine, they almost defy description. Montecristi panama hats are made from toquilla straw, hand-split into strands not much thicker than thread and woven so finely, at first a panama hat appears to be made from linen. Masterpieces of detail, the edges of these panama hats are woven back into the brim never trimmed and sewn like lesser quality panama hats. Each panama hat is woven by a single artisan, hand-blocked, and takes months to complete. Because there are so few master weavers of panama hats left (two generations ago there were 2000 panama hat weavers; today there are about 20 weavers of panama hats), these works of woven art are becoming endangered to the point of disappearing.

Montecristi, Ecuador Panama Hats - This village is internationally renowned for the high quality of the ï¿½Panama Hatsï¿½ they produce (yes, you read correctly, Panama Hats are and always have been from Ecuador and not from Panama). Lying at the foot of a large hill called Montecristi, the small town of the same name has many attractions such as Eloy Alfaroï¿½s (an ex-Ecuadorian President) house, the Hermanas Largacha Museum, and the Monserrate Sanctuary, where thousands of Ecuadorian and foreign pilgrims traditionally flock, especially on the weekends. Another place of interest is La Pila, whose artisans make a variety of sculptures and replicas of Pre-Colombian ceramics. In addition to hats, these artisan centers display other handmade crafts made of different types of straw and iron. History of the Montecristi Panama Hat - Modern day Panama hat design was originated by one Francisco Delgado. He lived in the coastal Manabi area of southern Ecuador in the 1700s.

Due to the fineness by which the native Americans split the fibers, as with flax, the finest of finest Panamas look like silk and cost from $10,000 or more on the retail market (EXCEPT FROM US!). Why? This quality represents many months of work of one individual! In Spanish, the word delgado means thin, and thin are the fibers which make the finest Panama hats. What is the hat history before Delgado? Panama hat production in fact is a God send to the weavers, for it's the only income the weaver's families have. Occasionally a darker or lighter fiber is admitted into the weaving process to break up the monochromic look and give it personality, it is not in any case a defect. This isn't "bad" nor of inferior quality, it is a matter of taste as to subtle color patterns exist or not. A hat's personality emanates from its individual characteristics. The hats are sometimes bleached with sulphur but the natural antique white of the fiber is also desired. Dyeing occurs in lieu of bleaching if colors are desired. Browns are usually for men's hats, pastels for women's hats, white and cream are universal.

Now, let's beat your hat! After weaving, the hat bodies are washed, pummeled a bit to provide regularity, flexibility and suppleness and dried. The sides and crown are actually carefully beaten (another art unto itself) to even them out, but without damaging the hat. The finishing processes after this are the only semi industrialized part of the Panama hat's production but are accomplished with hand operated tools or devices at most. The ironing and blocking process begins either in Ecuador or at the site of a blocker and seller overseas and a lot of ironing is done with an old fashioned cast metal iron heated on a stove! Initial ironing of the brim through a cloth is needed to remove undulations. At the last, before blocking, the raw edges of fibers are trimmed from the brim and it is back woven to prevent fraying. Hand blocking with steam and iron or with the use of a steam press produces the familiar pattern styles. The countless Fedora styles, Optimos and the Planters/Gamblers are the most popular block styles.

Visit for Ecuador Montecristi Panama Hats I t is erroneously stated on some websites that Panama hats are pretty much exclusively blocked, finished, bleached and dyed in Cuenca no matter where they were woven. Well, these processes of course do occur in Cuenca to a considerable degree because the exporters are chiefly in Cuenca. But finishing and blocking etc. are not exclusive to Cuenca since the province of Manabi is the center of the weaving itself. The coastal town of Montecristi of Panama hat fame is a little hyped as well in that most hats are actually woven outside the city limits in country cottages and in villages generally in Manabi and Guayas provinces. If Panama hats were only produced in Montecristi, every citizen of Montecristi; man, woman, child, dog, cat and chicken would have to be working 24/7 just to keep up with demand. And there is a lot of weaving going on in Cuenca and surrounding areas as well. So things are not as localized as one might gather from some information on the web.

Question: The panama hat originated in which country?
Answer: Ecuador