The Gold Rush and the Panama Hat

The California Gold Rush began on 1848 when gold was discovered in California. By the beginning of 1849, word of the Gold Rush had spread around the world, and an overwhelming number of gold-seekers and merchants began to arrive from virtually every continent resulting in some 300,000 men, women, and children coming to California.

The largest group of forty-niners (as referenced in 1849) were Americans, arriving by the tens of thousands overland across the continent and along various sailing routes. Many came by way of the Isthmus of Panama, the easiest way in that time to reach California from the east. While passing through, they often bought straw hats on their way and spread the word about these fabulous Panama Hats in their destinations within California.

Gold seekers never knew that what they thought it was a Panama Hat was really a straw hat that was sold in Panama but that it was originally made in Ecuador. As a matter of fact, these straw hat should have been named Montecristi Hat because it is hand made by master weavers of a small town of Montecristi, in Ecuador.

Anyway, the Panama Hat gained popularity in California and in 1849, Ecuador exported 220,000 hats to California that protected gold seekers from the strong sun since in that time the gold was retrieved from streams and riverbeds using simple techniques, such as panning.

The effects of the Gold Rush were substantial. San Francisco grew from a small settlement to a boomtown, and roads, churches, schools and other towns were built throughout California. On the other hand, the greatest of all straw hats gained popularity within the USA as the Panama Hat. Still today, Panama Hats are more popular in California than any other state of the USA and most of the celebrities that wear them are Hollywood stars.

Where are the famous Panama Hats made?

This is a question that I've seen in the board game "Trivia Pursuit" and the famous TV show "Who wants to be a millionaire." The name obviously suggests that the Panama hat is made in Panama, but in reality this hat is exclusively produced in Ecuador. Panama Hats or Toquilla Straw Hats as they are also known have always been handcrafted by artisans from the towns of Montecristi on the coast of Manabi in Ecuador and use a very fine and thin straw called Toquilla Straw, which only grows in this region of the world.

The history of this hat name started when an Ecuadorean businessman named Manuel Alfaro who had his own plantations in Montecristi, decided in 1835 to hire several experienced weavers and build a hat business. His business prospered and when the Ecuadorian market got limited, he decided to extepand his business by exporting straw hats to Panama, since this country was becoming a major center for business. Shortly after he opening stores in Panama, he attracted the attention of many customers around the world that passed through Panama, which was already a major trading port.

Eloy Alfaro, son of Manuel Alfaro and later President of Ecuador took over the family and at the early 1900s, Ecuador was exporting thousands of hats to Panama, taking advantage that the Panama Canal was being built by many workers and American engineers who needed sun protection. The hat then was baptized by all foreigners in Panama as "Panama Hat" because it was linked to the country where it was bought. The popularity grew throughout the world when the world press published a photo of President Theodore Roosevelt using a Montecristi hat during his visit to the channel.

The truth is that since then on, this beautiful Ecuadorian Montecristi Hat it is now known as Panama Hat.

Wo gibt es die berühmten "Panama Hat" oder Panama-Hut?

Dies ist eine Frage, die ich in der berühmten Brettspiels gesehen haben "Trivia Pursuit" und der berühmten TV-Show "Wer wird Millionär". Der Name deutet offensichtlich, dass die von Panama Panama-Hut ist, aber in Wirklichkeit hat sich ausschließlich in Ecuador produziert. Panama Hut oder Strohhut, wie sie auch bekannt sind immer von Handwerkern aus den Städten Montecristi an der Küste von Manabi in Ecuador sind handgefertigt und sehr fein und dünn Stroh verwendet werden, Stroh Toquilla, der nur in diesem Region der Welt.

Die Geschichte des Namens gestartet, wenn ein Geschäftsmann ecuadorianischen Manuel Alfaro und die ihre eigenen Plantagen in Montecristi hatte, beschlossen im Jahr 1835 benannt, um mehrere erfahrene Weber mieten und ein Geschäft von Hüten zu bauen. Sein Geschäft florierte und sah, daß der ecuadorianischen Markt beschränkt war, erstreckt sich das Geschäft ausführenden Strohhüte in das Land Panama, da dieses Land eine wichtige Drehscheibe für Geschäfts wurde immer. Kurz nach der Eröffnung von Filialen in Panama, die die Aufmerksamkeit vieler Kunden auf der ganzen Welt, die durch Panama zu diesem Zeitpunkt bereits ein wichtiger Handelshafen übergeben angezogen.

Eloy Alfaro, der Sohn von Manuel Alfaro und später Präsident von Ecuador hat der Familienbetrieb seit den frühen 1900er Jahren war Ecuador ausführenden Tausende von Hüten nach Panama, nutzt er diesen Jahren war der Bau des Panama-Kanals und hatte viele Arbeiter und US-Ingenieure benötigt Sonnenschutz. Der Hut wurde dann von allen Ausländern in Panama als Getaufte "Panama Hat" oder Panama-Hut, weil sie verband es mit dem Land, wo Sie es gekauft haben. Die Popularität wuchs in der ganzen Welt, wenn die Weltpresse ein Foto von Präsident Theodore Roosevelt mit einer Montecristi Hut bei seinem Besuch in den Kanal.

Die Wahrheit ist, dass seitdem diese schöne Montecristi Hut sollte vielleicht so genannt haben, ist es nun, wie Panama-Hut bekannt

Où sont les fameux "Panama Hats" ou Chapeaux Panama?

C'est une question que j'ai vu dans le célèbre jeu de société "Trivial Pursuit" et la célèbre émission "Qui veut être millionnaire. Le nom suggère évidemment que le Panama est en provenance du Panama, mais en réalité ce chapeau est exclusivement produite en Équateur. Chapeaux Panama ou des chapeaux de paille car ils sont également connus ont toujours été faits à la main par des artisans des villes de Montecristi, sur la côte de Manabi en Equateur et l'utilisation d'une paille très fine et mince, appelé Toquilla Paille qui n'est que dans cette région du monde.

L'histoire de ce nom a commencé quand un homme d'affaires équatorien nommé Manuel Alfaro et qui avaient leurs propres plantations à Montecristi, a décidé en 1835 d'embaucher plusieurs tisserands expérimentés et à bâtir une entreprise de chapeaux. Son entreprise a prospéré et voyant que le marché équatorien a été limitée, en étendant son activité d'exportation des chapeaux de paille vers le pays de Panama, puisque ce pays devient une plaque tournante importante pour les entreprises. Peu après l'ouverture des magasins au Panama, qui a attiré l'attention de nombreux clients à travers le monde qui sont passés par le Panama à l'époque déjà un grand port de commerce.

Eloy Alfaro, fils de Manuel Alfaro et plus tard Président de l'Équateur, a pris la famille depuis le début des années 1900, l'Equateur exporte des milliers de Chapeaux de Panama, en profitant de ces années, il a été la construction du canal de Panama et avait de nombreux travailleurs et Les ingénieurs américains ont eu besoin de protection solaire. Le chapeau, puis a été baptisé par tous les étrangers au Panama comme "Panama Hat" ou de Chapeau Panama parce qu'il l'a lié au pays où vous l'avez acheté. La popularité a grandi à travers le monde lorsque la presse mondiale a publié une photo du président Theodore Roosevelt en utilisant un Chapeau Montecristi lors de sa visite à la chaîne.

La vérité est que depuis lors, ce beau Chapeau Montecristi peut-être aurait dû être appelé ainsi, il est maintenant connu sous le Chapeau de Panama.

Onde está feito o famoso "Panama Hat" ou chapéus Panamá?

Esta é uma pergunta que eu vi no The Game bordo famoso "Trivial Pursuit" e do famoso programa de TV "Quem quer ser milionário". O nome, obviamente, sugere que os Chapéus Panamá são do Panamá, mas na realidade esses chapéus são produzidos exclusivamente no Equador. Chapéus Panamá ou chapéus de palha que eles também são conhecidos têm sido sempre à mão por artesãos das cidades de Montecristi, na costa de Manabí, no Equador e usar uma palha muito fina e fina, chamada Palha Toquilla é somente neste região do mundo.

A história do nome começou quando um empresário equatoriano chamado Manuel Alfaro e que tiveram suas próprias plantações em Montecristi, decidida em 1835 para contratar vários artesãos experientes e construir um negócio de chapéus. Seu negócio prosperou e vendo que o mercado equatoriano foi limitada, estendendo a sua actividade através da exportação de chapéus de palha Panamá desde que o país estava se tornando um importante pólo de negócios. Logo após a abertura das lojas no Panamá, o que atraiu a atenção de muitos clientes ao redor do mundo que passaram pelo Panamá na época já um porto comercial importante.

Eloy Alfaro, filho de Manuel Alfaro e mais tarde presidente do Equador, assumiu o negócio da família desde 1900, o Equador estava exportando milhares de chapéus de Panamá, aproveitando esses anos ele estava construindo o Canal do Panamá e tinha muitos trabalhadores e engenheiros americanos proteção solar necessário. O chapéu, em seguida, foi batizado por todos os estrangeiros no Panamá, como o "Panama Hat" ou Chapéu Panamá, porque eles foram pensados para se originam a partir do local de compra. A popularidade cresceu em todo o mundo, quando a imprensa mundial publicou uma foto do presidente Theodore Roosevelt usando um chapéu Montecristi durante sua visita ao canal.

A verdade é que desde então este belo chapéu Montecristi talvez deveria ter sido chamado assim, é agora conhecida como Chapéu-Panamá.

¿De donde son los famosos Panama Hats o Sombreros de Panamá?

Esta es una pregunta que la he visto en el famoso juego de mesa “Trivia Persuit” y en el famoso programa de televisión “Quien quiere ser millonario”. El nombre le diría a uno que obviamente los Sombreros de Panamá son de Panamá, pero en realidad estos sombreros son exclusivamente elaborados en el Ecuador. Los sombreros panamá o sombreros de paja toquilla como también se los conoce han sido siempre elaborados a mano por artesanos de los pueblitos de Montecristi en las costas de Manabí en Ecuador y utilizan una paja sumamente fina y delgada, llamada paja toquilla que crece únicamente en esta región del mundo.

La historia del nombre comenzó cuando un empresario ecuatoriano llamado Manuel Alfaro y quien tenía plantaciones propias en Montecristi, decidió en 1835 contratar a varios tejedores experimentados y construir un negocio de sombreros. Su negocio prosperó rápidamente y al ver que el mercado ecuatoriano era limitado decidió expandir su negocio exportando sombreros de paja a Panamá ya que este país se estaba convirtiendo en un importante centro para el negocio. Poco después abrió tiendas en Panamá que atrajeron la atención de muchos clientes de todo el mundo que pasaban por Panamá que en ese entonces ya era un gran puerto de comercio.

Eloy Alfaro, hijo de Manuel Alfaro y posterior Presidente del Ecuador, tomó el negocio familiar y a inicios de los 1900, Ecuador pasó a exportar miles de sombreros a Panamá, aprovechando que en esos años se estaba construyendo el Canal de Panamá y había muchos trabajadores e ingenieros estadounidenses que requerían protegerse del sol. El sombrero entonces fue bautizado por todos los extranjeros en Panamá como Panama Hat o Sombrero Panamá ya que fue allí donde lo compraban. La popularidad creció en todo el mundo cuando la prensa mundial publicó una foto del Presidente Theodore Roosevelt usando un sombrero Montecristi durante su visita al canal.

Lo cierto es que desde entonces este lindo sombrero de Montecristi que quizás debió haberse llamado así, ahora se lo conoce como Sombrero Panamá.

El Sombero Panamá tiene más de 6000 años de antiguedad!!

El sombrero de paja toquilla, aunque es dificil de creerlo, es usado mucho antes de la conquista española. Resulta que cuando llegaron los conquistadores españoles al Ecuador en el siglo 16 ellos pudieron ver que los nativos usaban unos gorros tejidos de una paja muy fina y ligera que cubrian la cabeza, orejas y cuello. Los españoles encontraron que este gorro se parecía a las "Tocas" que en esa epoca se usaba en Europa, una especie de sombrero o manta que cubría la cabaza como el que usan las monjas y con cierto parecido al de los faraones egipcios. Por este motivo este tipo de sombrero fue bautizado por los españoles como "Toquillas" y la paja con la que se tejía como "Paja Toquilla". Por cierto este tipo de paja, crece solamente en las cercanías de la costa ecuatoriana, entre 100 y 400 metros sobre el nivel del mar.

En la modernidad se ha podido comprobar los relatos de los españoles ya que se han encontrado restos arqueológicos de figurines humanos de cerámica en las que se aprecia el uso de estas "Toquillas". En las pruebas del carbono 14, figurines de la cultura de Valdivia, datan hasta del año 4000 antes de cristo!!!


A los españoles les gusto mucho este tipo de sombrero y comenzaron a usarlos y pronto usaron a tejedores locales para tejer sombreros de paja toquilla con modelos europeos. Así nacio el sombrero de paja toquilla moderno o como se lo conoce alrededor del mundo como Panama Hat o Sombrero Panamá.

Bien, si el sombrero tiene origenes ecuatorianos desde el año 4000 AC, entonces, ¿porqué se lo conoce como Sombrero de Panamá? Esta es otra historia en la que me extenderé en otro artículo pero en resumen fue porque un empresario ecuatoriano comenzó a comercializarlos en Panamá donde se estaba construyendo el actual canal y como había muchos americanos, entonces ellos los bautizaron como "Panama Hat" pués creyeron que el sombrero era originario de Panamá.

Women’s Hat

Women’s hats were largely associated with elite classes before the 20th century. Hats were not worn for its functionality practically during those times. Rather, it was for showing off their status and procession. Most of their hats were adorned with feathers, jewels, and exotic fabrics. For upper class women, being fashionable was much important than anything.

Today, the adorning hats with jewels, feathers or metals seem to cease a bit. Now this kind of decoration is limited for cocktail parties, racing events and weddings. Now, women are more practical regarding the use of hats today. There are not far behind their male counterpart regarding the use of hats in the fashion industry. Most of the women’s hats are still adorned with creative design to exude a sophisticated style.

Today the women's fashion hats can range from simple berets, rib knits hats, felted hats, cloche hats, beanies, baker boy caps, Panama hat and trilby hats.

Panama hats

Women’s straw hats are mainly made from materials like toquilla straw, twisted grass, coberg, shantung, raffia, vegetable fibers and Milan. The Women's Panama Hats are the most famous among the straw hats. Panama hats are known for its popularity among the hat lovers. The Panama hats are made from the toquilla straw found in Ecuador. Most women’s Panama hats are weaved with a laced crown and wide brim. Even today, the Panama straw gives a stunning and elegant look when it is worn. The Panama straw hats are finely handmade taking months to complete and it can last ages if taken great care.

Trilby Hats

The Trilby gained quite a status as the hat of choice when it supplanted stiffer styles in the 1920s. Now the trilby is made from a wide range of materials from angora to classic wool checks. The style is much loved among today’s women.

Berets

The berets are worn by almost all women. The beret is simple yet gives a fashionable style. It comes in multitudes of colors. The crown is round but it is typically pushed to one side.

Straw Handcrafts in Manabi

Manabi is famous for its straw handicrafts and the most famous of all of them is the Panama hat. The Panama hat is the widely and most popular purchased souvenirs from Ecuador. The Manabi inhabitants have been hand weaving the straw hats for years, and they are truly master weavers. The toquilla palm straws are widely used in Manabi region to weave the Panama hats. Way before the discovery of America by Columbus, pre-Hispanic cultures in Manabi used to weave straw headgear to protect against the heat.

Manabi lies on the northernmost province of Ecuador. It is also well known for its fauna and flora. The town of Montecristi is the home of the famous Panama hat, “Montecristi hat”. Montecristi is where many master artisans live weaving the famous Montecristi hats. Several people in this region have dedicated their lives weaving the Panama straw hats.

The Montecristi Hats are regarded the finest Panama straw hats in the world where people around the world eagerly seek to lay its hand on it. This Panama hat from the Manabi region is the most expensive straw hats. The weaves are so fine that is as supple and soft as silk. The straw hats are also smooth and light as a feather. The Panama hats are also weaved in Cuenca but quality wise the Montecristi hats are more superior. The Cuenca hats are quality straw hats however, the Montecristi hats are still well known for its finer quality weave.

The Panama hat is the famous straw handicraft of the Manabi region, but there are also many other handicrafts that are made out from the toquilla palm straw. The toquilla straws are not confined in making the Panama hats only. You will find baskets, carpets, handbags, bracelets, toys and much more. Next time you are in Manabi, you can pick up many straw handicrafts as a souvenir but don’t forget to pick one Panama straw hats as this is perhaps the most wonderful straw handicraft in the country.

Prince Charles in Ecuador

Prince Charles tour in Ecuador could not be complete without the famous Panama straw hat. The Panama hats are the trademark of Ecuador. This famous straw hat has been a favorite among many princes.

The Ecuador tour was a part of the Latin American tour to promote the energy efficiency and measures to fight climate change in the world. Prince Charles with his wife, Camilla flew to the capital Quito for a brief meeting with the senior government officials.

While arriving in the capital Quito, the Princes and the Duchess explored the place, the first capital city to be elected as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The duo won the heart of the people there who have been eagerly waiting for a glimpse of their favorite prince. They tour of the historic building of Compania of Jesus, a 17th century church with the mayor. He was presented a Panama straw hat, famous in the region. Although the hat is named after the Panama City but the origin has always been in Ecuador where many weavers still hand make the straw hat. Well, the Prince did wear the famous Panama hat almost in his entire tour but he is already an aficionado of this famous hat from before. He is of course also the most best dressed man in the world. Prince Charles always dons his clothes with an air of dressed-up confidence.

The Prince thereafter left Quito for the Galapagos Island for a two days tour. The Prince of Wales along with is his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, toured the Galapagos Islands before ending their Ecuador tour. Seen mostly in a light double-breasted linen suit and his Panama hat that protected him from the strong equatorial sun, the Prince tour the unique island admiring the wildlife preserved there. The Panama hat did become a great help from the 95-degree midday heat he faced on the island.