The Panama hat is not from Panama. It is woven in Ecuador, from toquilla straw, and always has been. The name stuck because the hats were shipped through Panama to the rest of the world.
Then Theodore Roosevelt wore one at the Panama Canal in 1906, the photo travelled, and the wrong name was sealed for good. An Ecuadorian hat with a Panamanian passport.
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The post, as it ran
01THE PANAMA HAT IS NOT
FROM PANAMA.
02IT IS WOVEN IN ECUADOR, FROM
TOQUILLA STRAW, AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN.
03THE NAME STUCK BECAUSE THE HATS
WERE SHIPPED THROUGH PANAMA TO
THE REST OF THE WORLD.
04THEN ROOSEVELT WORE ONE AT THE
PANAMA CANAL IN 1906, AND THE WRONG
NAME WAS SEALED FOR GOOD.