Panama Hat Was Ecuador’s Main Export Item

Ecuador has been known for its high quality headgear since years. In mid 1900’s the Panama hat was Ecuador’s main export item and until today it has been captivating many people around the world. This straw hat was weaved in Ecuador and sold within as well. Later the Straw Hats were shipped to Panama. As Panama was a major trade center, the name of the Straw hats from Ecuador was named Panama hats. Ironically, later when people came to know the fact of the Panama Straw Hat’s origin, the name didn’t change.This was the first time that the Panama Straw Hat was exported. In 1849, Ecuador exported the Panama Hats in more than 220,000 pieces. It was introduced to the rest of the world when a Frenchmen took the Ecuador Panama Hats in Paris and presented them in the World’s fair in 1855. Knowing the highly fashionable taste of the Frenchmen, soon the Panama hat was adorned for its beauty and it was unthinkable to replace them.

The popularity of the Panama Straw Hat was even higher in the 20th century when the then president of US, Theodore Roosevelt sported a Montecristi Hat. That picture got published in the world press. More demands were in and soon Ecuador began to export more of the Straw Hats to the world.In Turkey, the use of the traditional fez was banned in 1925 and the use of Ecuador Panama Hats was mandated. It was by 1944 that the Panama Straw Hat became the major export item of Ecuador for a short period. Till now, the demands of the Ecuador Panama Hats are growing and the straw hat still maintains its charm.

The main center of the Ecuador Panama Hat is in Cuenca and Montecristi. In Cuenca, the Panama hats are weaved faster and in mass to meet the demands but with inferior quality than the Montecristi Hats. Now, Panama is no longer the main country of export, today Ecuador Panama Hats are exported worldwide to countries such as United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan, etc, etc.