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Panama hats are the most famous Ecuadorian handcrafts in the world. This trade name was created in the mid-1800s by American gold miners, who stumbled upon these hats in Panama markets and quickly became fashionable when brought back to the United States.

No one knows for certain how long toquilla straw hats have been woven in Ecuador, but it certainly preceded the Spanish Conquest four centuries ago. Chroniclers of the conquest narrate that natives wore a strange attire over their heads similar to vampires’ wings made out of the fibers of a plant that grew wild in the Ecuadorian province of Manabi.

The weave in the shape of a hat was introduced by the Spanish around 1600 in the towns of Montecristi and Jipijapa, where this legendary tradition continues today. The Spanish gave them the name "toquilla" (headscarf) to identify the straw from which the hats are made.

The first panama hats were commercialized in South America, in the territories that currently belong to Ecuador, Colombia and Peru. At the end of the XVIII century, during the reign of King Carlos IV of Spain, toquilla straw hats arrived in Europe and graced the heads of several renowned members of the European royalty.

At the same time, in order to honor King Carlos IV and Queen Luisa, botanists agreed on the name Carludovica Palmata for the botanic classification of the plant used to weave panama hats. This name comes from the combination of the Latin names Carolus: Carlos, and Luduvica: Luisa.
In 1855, panama hats were taken to the universal show in Paris, and instantly became the fashion accessory of choice for aristocrats.

The Hispanic American War of 1898, when fifty thousand panama hats were used by the soldiers that sailed to the Philippines and the Caribbean, allowed Ecuadorian artisans to conquer the American market. The panama hat industry remained strong through the following sixty years. 1946 was one of the most memorable years of the panama hat industry; five million hats were exported, accounting to 20% of the value of all Ecuadorian exports for the year.

In the 1920s gangsters adopted the wide brim models that are still known as the Al Capone style, while women preferred the smaller-brim models in a variety of colors to match their dresses.
The 1960s marked the decline of hats and the panama in particular.

Panama hats have been a symbol of fashion and elegance throughout history and Alfonso Eudoro is determined to continue this legendary tradition.

Panama hats are made of fine toquilla straw (name given by the Spanish during the years of the Spanish Conquest), which is a filament split from the leaves of the Carludovica Palmata plant.
Carludovica Palmata comes from the Cyclanthaceae family. It is a plant similar to a palm tree without a trunk, from which wide two to three meter long leaves in the form of fans come out from the ground supported by long cylindrical petioles.

It grows wild in the tropical forests of western and eastern regions of Ecuador, but today it is often cultivated in fields with a slight fifteen degree slope, in warm and humid western regions of Ecuador.

Although the best toquilla straw comes from the provinces of Guayas and Manabi (coastal regions of Ecuador) which profit from the abundant yet not excessive rain of the Current of Humboldt, it can also be found in other regions of Ecuador such as the Sierra and the Amazon, and in the Santa Cruz Island of the Galapagos Islands where it is solely an ornamental plant.

There have been numerous attempts to grow the Carloduvica Palmata in other warm, humid regions of the world, but the results were never as successful as the ones present in Ecuador. The best toquilla straw is without a doubt, exclusive to Ecuador.

The weaving of a genuine panama hat is done completely by hand, from the very beginning to the end, using no mechanical implements.
After extracting the fibers from the plants’ leaves, they are boiled in water for an hour and dried in the sun during the day. They are then separated into fine strips and the process is repeated several times to make sure that the fibers become as resistant as possible.

Weaving a “Montecristi fino” requires additional care in the process.
After boiling the fine fibers, they are dried indoors. They are then sulfured and sun dried to acquire an ivory color.

It is not recommended to weave "finos" during the day because the straw is so fine that any variation in the weather can damage it. It is usually woven during the night and indoors, and during the day it is covered with a wet towel to protect it from climate variations, dust and mosquitos.

The hat is composed of three parts: "plantilla" (cone of the hat), "copa" (crown) and "falda" (brim).

The weave begins from the "plantilla" which has a circular form and is no longer than 10 centimeters. Then a mould of wood is used to give the crown its shape. The brim of the hat is made last and its length depends on the request of the customer, usually from 7cm to 15cm.

The final procedures are then completed at hast factories and include washing, trimming, breaking-in, pressing, bleaching or coloring the hats, among others.

It is not unusual for a panama hat to last several generations.
Panama hats are very durable, if treated properly.
Some families have been passing along their forefathers’ panama hats for generations, as a valuable tradition and legacy.

Here are some basic tips of how to take care of your panama hat:

• Avoid getting your panama hat wet. This can cause the straw to lose its shape.
• Handle your hat by its brim. Do not pinch its crown as this may cause it to lose its original shape and possibly break the straw.
• When resting your hat on a surface, always set it on its crown to avoid flattening out its brim.
• If you hang your hat on a peg, make sure the peg rests on your hat’s sweatband and not directly on the straw.
• Try to retain the straw’s suppleness. A very easy and effective way to do this is by hanging your hat in the bathroom while taking a shower. This will keep your panama hat looking fresh.
• To keep it clean, dust your hat with a soft bristled brush.
• While not using your panama hat, keep it in a dry, cool place or in its box.

SIZE				Inch	cm
.	(American)	(English)	(French)	.	.
Small	6 7/8 - 7	6 3/4 - 6 7/8	4 - 4 1/2	21 1/2 - 21 7/8	55 - 56
Medium	7 1/8 - 7 1/4	7 - 7 1/8	5 - 5 1/2	22 1/4 - 22 5/8	57 - 58
Large	7 3/8 - 7 1/2	7 1/4 - 7 3/8	6 - 6 1/2	23 - 23 1/2	59 - 60
X Large	7 5/8 - 7 3/4	7 1/2 - 7 5/8	7 - 7 1/2	23 7/8 - 24 1/4	61 - 62
To determine your hat size, measure the circumference of your head using a tape measure. The measurement should be taken at the widest point of the head, just above the ears. If your measurements fall between sizes, choose the larger size.

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