Panama hat

Headpieces

Misleading name
Panama hats are made in Ecuador. But where does that name come from? During the construction of the Panama Canal, workers already wore this sun-protective headgear. But it was President Theodore Roosevelt who achieved worldwide fame when he wore one during a working visit to the Panama Canal in 1906. The fashionable white straw hat is recognizable by the black band and characteristic indentation, like a fedora. Originally, Panama hats are made by hand from dried palm leaves and are woven so finely that you can shake a bottle of water in them without leaking. It's also an ideal travel hat: lightweight and one of the few hats that can be folded and come out of your suitcase wrinkle-free.

Image: © The Panama Hat Company

 

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