A Montecristi Panama hat is a hat handwoven from toquilla straw in Montecristi, a town in the Ecuadorian province of Manabí. Despite the name, Panama hats come from Ecuador, not Panama.
Why is it called a Panama hat?
The most repeated explanations are trade and a photograph. Hats from Ecuador were sold and shipped through Panama in the 1800s, and a 1906 photo of President Theodore Roosevelt at the Panama Canal works, wearing one of these straw hats, spread the name further. Historians do not credit one single cause, but every account agrees that the hat itself is Ecuadorian.
Is the weaving recognized by UNESCO?
Yes. The traditional weaving of the Ecuadorian toquilla straw hat was inscribed in 2012 on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. UNESCO notes that weaving one hat can take from one day to eight months, depending on its fineness.
How do Montecristi hats differ?
The main difference is how fine the weave is, which also sets how long a hat takes. These are the hats we carry in Quito:
| Hat | What sets it apart |
|---|---|
| The Riviera | Our introduction to Montecristi, with a nautical band |
| The Havana | Fino grade, about three months on the loom, chocolate band |
| The Superfino | Our finest weave, about five months by one weaver of the Pachay family |
How do I choose one?
- Measure your head at the widest point, just above the ears.
- Decide how fine a weave you want. Finer weaves take longer and cost more.
- Choose a band color that suits what you wear most.
- Handle the hat by the brim and store it on a flat surface or a hat rack.
Shop Montecristi Panama hats, shipped from Quito worldwide.