Panama Hat Story

THE HAT WORN BY PRINCES & PAUPERS

The fabulous Panama: cool, lightweight, long wearing and ideally suited to our climate.

In the early 1900’s workers building the Panama Canal wore them for protection against the burning sun but when US President Roosevelt visited the construction site in 1906 he was photographed wearing one.

From there, the hat was taken to Europe where it became a fashion sensation when King Gustavus V of Sweden wore one whilst playing tennis at Monte Carlo and the Prince of Wales wore one to the races.

The genuine “Panama” is hand woven from the fibre of the Toquilla palm by the Indians of Equador and today only a dozen or so weavers remain capable of making the finest straw hat of them all – the fabulous Montecristi superfino. Because they are so rare there is a waiting period for them. They come with a stamped balsa wood box and are rolled inside when not in use – perfect for travelling.

Today you’ll still see panamas on the heads of the rich and famous, on the heads of the poor and the prosperous, and on the heads of state.

The Hat Box stocks a wide range of ladies’ panamas in a variety of styles and colours including pastels. Also available men’s panamas most trimmed with the traditional black petersham ribbon to commemorate the death of Queen Victoria in 1901.

1906 US President Roosevelt at Panama Canal

Weaver

Classic Straw Panama

Aqua Panama

Panama in balsa box

Clockwise from top left, man's planter, super fino and woman

Pink Panama

Super fino roll up