Ecuador Hat (Panama Hat), White/Black, large

Ecuador Hat (Panama Hat)

This is a hat handwoven in Ecuador, with love. We changed its name from "Panama Hat" to honor the heritage and craftsmanship behind this iconic piece.

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$118

Color: White/Black — Toquilla Straw

Size:

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Dimensions & Care

Dimensions

Handmade item, dimensions may vary slightly
Crown height: 4 in.
Brim width: approximately 2.75 in.
Ribbon width: 1.4 in.
To find out your hat size, measure the circumference of your head from above your eyebrows, or where you’d like the hat to rest for exact measurement. Please reference our size chart to see which hat size is the best fit for your head based on your measurements.

Care

See Full Care Guide

design

Airy & Lightweight

Our first-ever product and the piece that started it all. The traditional silhouette is now a seasonal favorite, featuring a narrow brim and a contrasting grosgrain ribbon bow.

quality

Handwoven in Ecuador

Handcrafted by artisans in their homes using heritage techniques recognized by UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

sustainability

Renewable Resource

Made from toquilla straw, a renewable resource made from young palm fronds that are harvested without harming the main tree.

Behind the Ecuadorian Icon

Each hat is a historical art piece, handwoven with the skills and knowledge passed generation of Ecuadorian Indigenous women.

The Misnaming of an Icon

Over the years the rise of mass production techniques in the retail industry has diminished the demand for locally-crafted goods, resulting in a disconnection between a product and its true heritage craft and origin story. Our Ecuador Hat is a perfect example.

Widely known as the Panama Hat, it was named after the design was massively exported from Ecuador to Panama during the 19th century. Theodore Roosevelt was then famously photographed wearing this hat during the Panama Canal inauguration, which gave the hat its global recognition. At that point, the true Ecuadorian origin of this treasure became widely unknown. Our mission is to give Ecuador and its skilled weavers the respect and recognition they deserve for creating this iconic design.

An Ecuadorian Treasure

What it took for one hat to get to your house is the story of craftsmanship passed down over generations, hundreds of thousands of hours of skilled labor, and an ongoing battle to give recognition to the artisans who created the original design.

In the 1600s, indigenous Ecuadorian people created the art of weaving toquilla straw. Since then, the majority female weavers have supported their traditional lifestyles by selling their craft. This hat is, by definition, a representation of Ecuadorian history and heritage. Each hat is a work of art, taking at least eight hours to make. From palm frond to finish, the process of creating the hat is a true labor of love.