The arrival of the famous straw hats in the store this week marked for us the end of winter darkness and a time to begin looking forward to sunnier, brighter days again!

Although indigenous to Ecuador, these hats became associated with Panama during the construction of the canal. Popular with workers because they were enduring and practical, it was Theodore Roosevelt’s visit to the canal site that introduced the hat to the fashion world, where it has been a staple ever since.

Weaving a Panama hat is a form of artistry, a skill learned from an early age and handed down over generations. Woven from toquilla plant leaves, the quality is measured by the number of weaves per inch – the higher the number the better the hat. The finest Panama hats, or the ‘superfino’ can hold water and when rolled will fit through a wedding ring.
A regular hat can be made in one day, but the finer ones can take many months to weave and have been known to sell for thousands of dollars.

Your Panama Hat should be stored in the bathroom, as the moisture prevents the straw from drying out. Like all hats, avoid holding it by the pinch as this will eventually degrade the hat.