Under the theme of “learning to work working” the National Institute of Cultural Heritage aims to preserve the making of straw hats.

The creation of the Knowledge Transfer Centre is the first step that the National Institute of Cultural Heritage, implemented in Gauteng to ensure that the construction of the Panama Hat (Montecristi Hat) not be forgotten.

In the commune of Montecristi Pile under the theme “Learning to work at work”, it is expected that the tradition of weaving straw hats , part of the country’s intangible cultural heritage is not lost in history. According to many models weavers and most are elderly and few young people who are interested in learning this craft that is part of the culture and country around.

In addition to this project is to improve the employability of people who acquire new knowledge, including the hat to finish counting the proper tools, thus avoiding the middlemen.

The straw hat scarf, also called Panama Hat is a straw hat, hand woven palm leaves or straw Jipijapa scarf.

Paradoxically, despite its name, THE AUTHENTIC BUT NOT COME FROM THE PANAMA ECUADOR, the village of Pile in the Manabi province led to the creations that have become a boom in manufacturing of fashion in the world.

There are different versions regarding the term “Panama Hat”, one of the most widespread is that were imported into that country for use by workers involved in building the Panama Canal to guard against dehydration by high heat .

The photo of President Roosevelt in one of his visits to work wearing this hat Canal turned the world, baptizing in the name of the country for posterity.

» Read more: The straw hat scarf in world history