Panama Hat

A Summer Sensation

The Panama hat is steeped in history and while the first mentions of it are rooted in the early 19th century their worldwide popularity did not come about until the time of the California Gold Rush when many of the "49ers" were seen wearing them as they passed through Panama on their way to strike it rich. Panama hats originate not from Panama as one might assume from the name, instead they come from Ecuador where they were originally known as Jipiajapa, which is the name of the town at the center of the Ecuadorian hat trade in this era.

Proper Construction

If you are interested in buying a Panama hat you should look at the different levels of quality that are available. The Panama is essentially a straw hat, but it is the type of straw that it was originally made from that made it so special. The original and still the best quality Panama hats are made using the finest Toquilla straw. This straw must grow for at least 2 ½ years before a carefully trained harvester is allowed to pick only the best hearts of the plants and create the bundles from which the hats will be made.

From these hearts the veins are separated out into fibers and treated to give them a uniform color. The highly skilled weavers then take these strands and weave them into Panama hats. There are some differences in quality; the most noticeable is the number of weaves per square inch. The more there are the higher the quality of the hat. Since these hats are still completely woven by hand the cheaper ones may be completed in a few days, whereas at the best quality ones can take many months to complete and cost thousands.

Rise in Popularity

While Panama hats may have become a principal export during the 19th century it was not until the 49ers carried them to California that they became more mainstream at a time when most "gentlemen" were still wearing a top hat. President Theodore Roosevelt furthered their cause when he donned one to inspect progress on the Panama Canal and continued to wear it even after he returned home.

Not to be outdone by many other hats seen in the movie world such as the fedora hat worn by Humphrey Bogart in the film Casablanca, his nemesis Victor Lazlo played by Paul Henreid wore a Panama hat. Among others seen in a Panama were Charlie Chan and several of the lead characters in the British television show Doctor Who.

Today, mostly due the fact that they are cool and comfortable thanks to the open weave you will see plenty of men wearing them as a way to keep their heads out of the sun in the summer. It does not matter where they are although the beach seems to be a popular place to wear a Panama hat. While the number of hats available from Ecuador has declined in recent years there are several other manufacturers such as Stetson and Dobbs keeping the world well supplied.