Panama hats actually originated in Ecuador and were first shipped to Panama for trade exposure. The hats gained popularity in the mid-1800s and were worn by Theodore Roosevelt, leading to international manufacturing and export. The hats are made from the fibers of a tropical palm tree and are known for their lightweight and breathable qualities.
Surprisingly, Panama hats did not originate from the country of Panama. Panama straw hats began as a product of Ecuador, a country located 775.2 miles (1,247.56347 km) south of Panama. Although the product of Ecuador, Panama hats get their name from the fact that in the bustling era of trade in the 19th century, hats were first shipped to the Isthmus of Panama for further trade exposure.
The hats were made for centuries before they were known as “Panama.” In fact, some historians claim that Panama’s woven straw hats have a history dating back to the ancient Incas, although this claim cannot be verified. It was in the mid 1800’s that the Panama hat gained popularity. In the United States, the simple straw hat was a favorite of the gold rush miners of 1849, as they made their way to California via Panama. Internationally, the hat was introduced in the mid-century at the World’s Fair in Paris, causing an even greater rise in popularity.
The biggest boost to the popularity of Panama straw hats came in the early 1800s, when United States President Theodore Roosevelt wore the elegant woven hat while speaking to the press. Countries around the world took notice of Panama straw hats and began to manufacture and export their own versions; the country of Turkey even declared the Panama hat its officially mandatory headdress in 1925. By the 1940s, the popularity of straw hats had peaked and then began to wane.
Unlike other types of hats that are worn and appreciated for their warmth, Panama straw hats are revered for their lightweight and breathable qualities. This is due in part to the fact that Panama hats are woven from the fibers of a tropical palm tree, Carludovica Palmata, sometimes called Toquilla. The fibers are first dried and strengthened before the weaving process begins, and then the hat is either knitted and blocked, or dampened and allowed to dry as intended. Like other woven products, the quality of Panama straw hats is determined by the number of threads, even though the hats are not made of thread. A hat that has less than 100 fibers per inch is generally considered to be of lower quality than a hat with a higher count.
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