History of Montecristi Panama Hat

The 2 historical stages on the Montecristi Panama Hat

The Spaniards brought us measles, Catholicism, colonization, but also the charcoal iron, the press, the needles and sulphur. Together with our weaving techniques, they gave identity to the modern toquilla straw hat. Not only for its look and iconic appearance, but rather because this symbiosis of two worlds gave birth to a hat that combines tradition and exquisite refinement in equal parts.  

The turning point for the commercial history of the toquilla straw hat can be found during the construction of the inter-oceanic canal of the Isthmus of Panama. In a professional way, several tens of thousands of toquilla straw hats were exported from Ecuador, destined to be part of the endowment of the canal workers. It was then that President Theodore Roosevelt visited the works on November 14th, 1906. This visit was widely broadcasted throughout the world, through the United States, Panama, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, among others. 

From the colony’s toquilla straw hat, to the current and modern Montecristi Panama hat

The photographs of the president dressed in white linen, wearing an elegant toquilla straw hat adorned with a black ribbon became an icon of fashion, business and the highest levels of political relations. The international media baptised the hat as “Panama Hat”, name by which even today is known the most representative hat of Ecuadorian craftsmanship . Since then, Ecuador has increased year after year the number of export of toquilla straw hats. Today, in the world of high quality hats, ours is the king of straw hats. Manufacturers from Italy, France, Mexico, Colombia, China, etc. They establish offices in Ecuador to attract artisans and teachers that allow them to reach the level of excellence of our work, in their industrialized factories. Fortunately, our product is entirely handmade and with no participation of machines during its manufacture.