History of Panama Hat

The hats are made from palm leaves "Carludovica Palmata".
Indigenous Domingo Chóez made the first toquilla straw hat in 1630 using the shape of Spanish hats. Domestic production grew and gained international popularity.
During the construction of the Panama Canal, workers, for sun protection, used the toquilla straw hat for its qualities: flexibility, lightness and freshness. From Panama this hat be internationalized and people started to call it "Panama Hat" although the place of origin is Ecuador.