Panama Straw Hats

Panama straw hats are a misnomer: they aren’t from Panama at all. The name comes from the Isthmus of Panama, a strategic location between North and South America, and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This tiny area saw a lot of travelers, especially gold seekers heading west in the mid-1800s. While passing through, travelers bought these hats, which originated in nearby Ecuador.

During the 1898 Spanish-American War, the US Government purchased 50,000 of these straw hats for troops. Soon after, during the time of the construction of the Panama Canal, workers needed a wide-brimmed hat to protect themselves from the sun, and again these straw hats were chosen. The association of this hat with Panama led to the name.

Find Quality Panama Straw Hats
While the original versions of these hats are from Ecuador, there are a few companies outside Ecuador that produce them, including Bailey of Hollywood and Christy’s of London. The use the same quality fabrics and fibers as the meticulous Ecuadorians, and just because they are crafted from straw doesn’t mean that won’t last a lifetime. You can find the best collection of straw Panama hats on the Internet at TheFedoraStore.com.

An important aspect of buying and wearing well-made hats is proper sizing and care. At TheFedoraStore.com, we give you the information you need to be sure that your hat is the right size and that you are maintaining it properly. We also have other services to help you get the most from your hat, such as blocking and cleaning. The menus above and to the left will help you find whatever you need.

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