Posts Tagged ‘ecuador panama hat’

Panama Hat: The Straw Hat “Made in Ecuador”

November 2nd, 2010
Theodore Roosevelt Panama Train

Theodore Roosevelt Panama Train

Between 1880 and 1881 the French engineer Fernando Lesseps undertook the construction of the Panama Canal, to link the Pacific with the Atlantic Ocean.

It was November 1906. The then U.S. President, Theodore Roosevelt was photographed, while maneuvering the controls of a giant steam shovel, while inspecting the construction of the Panama Canal. Roosevelt wore a Panama hat beautiful. The picture appeared in every newspaper and the hat became fashionable! Everyone wanted a Panama hat… Like Roosevelt’s hat!

But to our misfortune, the hat’s identity was confused. They called “Panama Hat“, ignoring it was Made in Ecuador.

When Theodore Roosevelt visited the Canal used the hat, which increased its popularity. People are arriving in large quantities to Panama spread the use of Ecuadorian hat as the most suitable climatic conditions and the type of jobs in that place. Glorified during the XIX century, the Panama has since been considered prince of straw hats.

» Read more: Panama Hat: The Straw Hat “Made in Ecuador”

Panama Hats or Montecristi Hats

September 20th, 2010

Panama Hats or Montecristi HatsEcuador is world famous for the quality of their straw hats. These arise from the ability of artisans/weavers, mostly women of the provinces of Manabi, CaƱar, Guayas and Esmeraldas. For hat weaving you can use the tender leaves or the bark of the paja toquilla plant, a kind of an African palm.

The basic raw material for manufacturing straw hats is the Carludovica Palmata. Which is grown in the mountainous parts of the East and of the Coast of Ecuador, provinces of Manabi, Guayas, Esmeraldas and Morona Santiago (Gualaquiza). » Read more: Panama Hats or Montecristi Hats