Even though hats are no longer an obligatory element of a man’s wardrobe today, they go a long way to enhance style in terms of both form and function. Unlike the plethora of hat style choices in the winter, there is really only one classic summer hat that has stood the test of time: the Panama hat.
A “Panama hat” refers to a lightly-colored, finely woven hat made from the straw of the South American toquilla palm plant. Although the name implies that the origins of this world famous hat lie in Panama, the original Panama has always been made in Ecuador. There, it is better known as sombrero de paja toquilla, or simply “straw hat”. The Panama’s elegant shape and lightweight, breathable qualities make it the perfect choice for hot, sunny weather, and therefore a Panama hat should be in the wardrobe of any serious sartorialist.
As a side note, this Panama Hat Guide was our very first article we published on the Gentleman’s Gazette on March 6, 2010. We have grown and changed a lot ever since and the original 700-word article is now 2100 words long. Also, our content standards have become a lot higher. Therefore it was time to redo this guide, I am sure you will enjoy it!
History of the Panama Hat
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Theodore Roosevelt inspecting the Panama canal
Panama hats have been woven in Ecuador since the early 17th century, when they were worn and traded locally. In industry grew steadily and spread in the following centuries, and by the 19th century, they were exported out of Ecuador for distribution in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. The story goes that as early as 1834, gold-rush miners that were making the trip to California via Panama bought hats there, earning them the misleading moniker “Panama” hats. Word of mouth and the continuing flow of miners through Panama sustained the term and the hat’s popularity, but the hat didn’t achieve a broad audience in the US until Theodore Roosevelt was photographed wearing a Panama hat while visiting the building site of the Panama canal. By 1944, Panama hats were Ecuador’s top export.
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Gregory Peck holding a Panama hat on the set of To Kill a Mockingbird
In the 20th century, interest in the hat continued as movie stars, politicians, and noteworthy fashion figures wore Panama hats in warm weather settings. Hercule Poirot, Rober Redford in the Great Gatsby, and Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird are just a few of the characters who wore this famous hat.
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Robert Redford wears a Panama hat in the Great Gatsby in 1974
In the present day, the authentic Panama hat industry is centered around the city of Cuenca, Ecuador, where the production is mostly focused on quantity rather than quality. Large companies manufacture hats in the thousands and sell them around the world. If you come across a hat labeled as a “genuine Panama hat,” it probably comes from one of the factories in Cuenca. The hand weaving tradition of Panama hats is still alive outside of Cuenca, and the most well-known center of hand woven hat production is probably Montecristi. Many would argue that the best Panama hats come from this small town, but the coastal town of Calle Pilé in the western part of Ecuador also lays claim to the best hat producers.
How a Panama Hat is Created
All Panama hats were originally woven by hand, using local toquilla palm straw, around individual hat forms. Like most popular wardrobe staples, the demand for hats eventually led to the industrialization of the hat making process, and now most Panama hats are woven by machines in modern factories. While the factory production of Panama hats is rather uninteresting, the process of hand-weaving one is a fascinating. It’s a dying art that is worth appreciation; in 2012, the hand weaving of Panama hats was even added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
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Searching the Ecuadorian jungle for the toquilla palm plant
The process begins with the straw, which can only be found in the equatorial rain forests in Ecuador. Like a rare wine grape, the best plants are found in a microclimate that is ideal for growing toquillas. The heart of the plant, the cogollo, is the perfect material for creating baby hair-fine straw for a high-quality Panama hat. Dozens of cogollos may be required to create a single hat, and each one is harvested by hand from wild plants in the forest. The stalks of the plant are then painstaking separated by hand and boiled briefly before drying. Once dry, the fibers are bleached in sulfur smoke and then split into even finer straws.
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Hand weaving the crown of a Panama hat
The weaving begins with the centermost part of the hat, the crown, and is then woven outwards in a circular pattern. Weave possibilities include the “liso” herringbone and the “brisa” diamond pattern, but the hand weavers favor the liso for it’s more elegant appearance. The brisa weave is favored by large manufacturers for economic reasons.
Once the crown is large enough, it is placed on a waist-high tripod that is topped with a hat block in the shape of the crown. Once the weaving extends over the edges of the block, the weaver will place several more blocks on top of it, as well as a small cushion. He or she will then lean over the cushioned tripod, using their body weight to hold down the weaving. It is quite literally back breaking work. A single very fine hat can take months to weave; the record is 8 months for the finest-known hat to have been produced.
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Leaning over to weave a Panama hat
Once the weaver approaches the edge of the brim, the unfinished hat is passed off to a handful of additional skilled artisans for finishing. First, an artisan finishes the edge of brim with a loose back weave. The second artisan tightens the back weave. The third cuts the excess straw from the brim. For a very fine hat, this straw will be saved so that any needed repairs can be made from the same straw. The hats are then washed and bleached before being sent to the fourth artisan, who then pounds the hats with sulfur powder to soften them. Finally, the hats are trimmed and ironed into a form that begins to resemble a finished hat. Blocking (or shaping the hat into the form) is the final step, but that is usually completed by the buyer.
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Raja Panama Hat 1934
Panama Hat Quality
The quality of a Panama hat is determined by a number of factors, most notably the straw and the weave.
- The Straw: the straw is derived from the fibers of the toquilla palm tree, and, generally speaking, the finer, the more identical, and the more evenly colored the straw, the better the quality of the hat.
- The Weave: The denser the weave and the more even they are, the better the quality of the hat.
Oftentimes, hats are categorized as “Montecristi fino” or “Montecristi superfino” and so on. Some manufacturers and retailers supply numbered grades, such as 1-20, but these aren’t universally recognized terms. This supposedly implies the fineness of the weave of a Panama hat, but unfortunately, those terms are not clearly defined and thus can be used to obscure or inflate the real quality of a hat. In fact, the terms and grades are used very much in the same confusing manner as Super numbers in the fabric trade and thus do not really help to evaluate the quality of a Panama hat. Rather than having to rely on uncertain terms, it is best to simply count the weaves per square inch.
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Finely Woven Panama Hat
In addition to the quality of the straw and the weave, some consider another quality criterion: the number of concentric circles—the vueltas—which can be found on the crown when the hat is held against the sun or other intense light. Supposedly, the more circles, the higher the quality. In my opinion, counting the weaves per square inch yields far more reliable results than counting the vueltas. For everyday wear, a hat with 350–400 weaves per square inch is perfectly sufficient.
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Panama Hat Circles in the Crown
The Finest Panama Hats
The finest hats have over 2000-4000 weaves per square inch, taking the hat maker between four and eight months to produce such a masterpiece. Considering the amount of time that goes into the production of this piece of art as well as the fact that there are only a few handfuls of people left who can weave in such a fine manner, it seems obvious that this quality of hat will not come cheaply.
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Vintage Panama hat ad
Panama Hat Styles
The style of a Panama hat is determined by two main characteristics: the shape and size of the brim and the crown. While there are endless variations of hats available, here are some of the most classic hat profiles you should consider.
Image may be NSFW.
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Fedora
For the most modern, and yet still very classic look, select a Fedora shaped Panama hat. The most traditional Fedora comes with black grosgrain ribbon and leather sweatband. There are many iterations of the Fedora to choose from, ao you are bound to find one that suits you.
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Optimo style Panama hat
Optimo
The Optimo shape was a staple profile in the first half of the 20th century, but it still retains its appeal and elegance today. With a distinctly British expat feel, this style is defined by a top seam along the center of the rounded crown.
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Planter style Panama hat
Planter
The planter style Panama hat has a rounded, molded crown and an extended brim for extra sun protection. Great for a characteristic look when staying out of the sun is paramount.
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Golf style Panama hat
Golf
Since golf is a warm-weather sport, there is a style designed with the golfer in mind. The golf Panama hat is often woven with an open, decorative weave along the sides of the molded crown for even better air flow.
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Prince Charles in RayBan Sunglasses in a finely woven Panama hat and a Gardenia Boutonniere
Where to Buy Quality Panama Hats
While you can certainly buy a Panama hat from a local hat shop, it’s best to look online for the best selection and information.
Brent Black
Brent Black has long been a player in the hand woven, Montecristi Panama hat trade. He goes to great lengths to explain his product offerings on his website, and his passion for the business is obvious. Prices range from a couple hundred dollars up to $25,000, no joke. The only downside of shopping with Brent Black is the clunkiness of this antiquated website.
Optimo Hats
Optimo hats is one of the last hatters (as in, they make hats) in the United States and they have one of the finest selections of hats around. Based in Chicago, they have an online gallery of styles, including a range of Montecristi Panamas, but do not offer an option to purchase online. That being said, they offer personal phone fittings, which in combination with the images should give a buyer what they need to know to make an informed decision.
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Panama Hat, striped shirt, checked sportcoat, off-white slacks and printed red Madder Tie
Panama Hat Buying Tips
- Verify the country of origin and the material before you buy a Panama hat. To our knowledge, the name “Panama hat” isn’t regulated, so hats using the similar white color and a traditional black band will call themselves a Panama hat even though they aren’t from Ecuador.
- Buy from a reputable hat retailer or a hatter. If their business is hats, they should be able answer all your questions about the country of origin, the weave density, etc. If they don’t, find a different source.
- Buy for quality and longevity, not price. Buy the best quality authentic Panama hat you can afford, as it will last you for years if properly cared for.
- Don’t love the hat band? No problem. A hand band can easily be changed by your local hat blocker. Most hats come with a black band, but they also look great with other colors and patterns, such as a forest green or a red, white and blue stripe.
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Gui Bo wears a Panama hat and suspenders
Conclusion
How do you wear and combine a Panama hat? For more detailed information about the Panama hat, I recommend the book Panama: A Legendary Hat by Martine Buchet.