Panama Hat | 100% Straw | Handmade

One Men’s Panama Hat refers to a finely woven, light-colored hat made from high-quality straw. The Panama’s elegant shape and lightness make it the perfect choice for hot, sunny weather, a fashion classic for both children and adults.

The piece has the benefit of looking good on most men as it adds an air of sophistication to clothing, therefore can easily complement a smart casual look as well as tailoring.

Although the name implies that the origins of this world-famous hat are in Panama, the original model was always made in Ecuador. There, it is better known as a sombrero de paja toquilla, or simply a straw hat.

Panama hats are so embedded in Ecuador’s culture that UNESCO added the weaving of the hats to its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Legend has it that the use of hats in Panama began with the people who lived in the coastal provinces and a city called Montecristi.

Panama hats have been woven in Ecuador since the early 17th century, when they were worn and traded locally. The industry grew steadily and spread over the following centuries, and in the 19th century they were exported from Ecuador for distribution in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. The story goes that as early as 1834, gold rush miners who were traveling to California via Panama purchased hats there, earning the misleading nickname “Panama” hats.

Word of mouth and the steady flow of miners through Panama sustained the term and the hat’s popularity, but the hat did not reach a wide audience in the U.S. until Theodore Roosevelt was photographed wearing a Panama hat while visiting the Panama Canal construction site. . . In 1944, Panama hats were Ecuador’s main export.

Today, Panama hats are no less popular nor less stylish than when they first appeared at the Paris World’s Fair in 1855. Constructed with a wide brim, men’s Panama hats are often the first choice of travelers venturing to a warmer place. They are sophisticated and timeless, but also provide necessary protection against the sun’s rays.