Panama Hats

Beat the Heat with a Panama Hat

A Panama hat is traditionally made from Ecuadorian toquilla straw. Most Panama hats resemble a fedora and have a wide brim that protects your face from the sun.

Because toquilla straw is naturally lightweight and breathable, you don’t have to worry about trapping heat and sweat under your hat. Whether outdoors at a summer barbeque or sitting at a beachside cafe sipping mojitos, these light-coloured straw hats are ideal for keeping you cool. And they easily match the rest of your summer outfit – from a relaxed linen suit to shorts and sandals, topping off your look with a Panama hat is the best way to beat the summer heat.

Shop for a High-Quality Panama Hat

Thanks to a depleting ozone layer and global warming, men’s sun hats are more important than ever! When searching for the best Panama hat, look for one made from real Ecuadorian straw. These are the only straw hats that can be called Panamas. While you can find straw hats in shapes like pork pie hats, the traditional Panama has a wide brim, a ribbon around the base and a taper in front – similar to a fedora.

Are Panama Hats from Panama?

Panama hats originated in Ecuador, not Panama. They got the name ‘Panama Hats’ in the 1850s when Ecuadorian hat makers moved to Panama to sell their handmade items. Here, hats were sold to men on a quest for gold during the California Gold Rush. We guess ‘Panama hat’ was an easier name to remember than ‘jipijapa’ or ‘toquilla hat’ as they were referred to throughout South and Central America.

From Ecuador to Italy

While the traditional art of weaving the Ecuadorian toquilla hat was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists in 2015, all of our men’s Panama hats are handmade in Italy. With time-honoured Italian craftsmanship, each hat is carefully blocked into the perfect shape and left unlined for maximum breathability and comfort – making it the perfect sun hat for men.