This special authentic Panama* Hat was inspired by the beautiful and world famous roses that grow in the midst of the high altitudes of the Andes region in Ecuador. Our Tagua Beaded Panama* Hat -Tulipan is the perfect complement to a unique outfit. The wide brim style provides perfect protection from the sun, while the tagua bead hatband in different rose and pink tones, transforms this panama style hat into a unique accessory that you don´t want to miss. Tagua beads are also sustainably made from the nuts of the Ecuadorian rainforest palm trees.
CLEANING & RESHAPING
Remove stains or spots with a damp cloth and soap dabbing the stain spot with the cloth. Repeat this process with a damp cloth without soap and let air dry. If the hat or bag has been left on a humid space this may distort the straw. Lay a damp cloth or t-shirt on the part that needs to be reshaped and pass a warm iron over it to reshape it. This method can be used to manipulate the shape of the brim if you prefer it to flip up or down, as well.
STORING
We recommend you store your hat or bag in a cool, dry place on a shelf away from direct sunlight, otherwise this might discolor or distort the shape. Avoid contact with water or moisture and away from excess heat as straw may become brittle and crack. Avoid leaving inside your car.
All our clients around the world enjoy free international shipping via DHL Express.* All packages are shipped from Quito, Ecuador.
ANDINAVOGUE also pays for all import taxes and duties by sending DDP (Duty and Delivery Payed) packages with DHL Express.
Processing time on all orders: 2 working days
Delivery time via DHL Express (depending on destination): 5 to 7 working days
All sales are final. We do not accept any returns unless you (the buyer) receives a different product than what you ordered. In this case, please notify ANDINAVOGUE as soon as you receive your package, the latest after 5 days, in order to receive a full refund through the same method that was used to make the purchase.
ANDINAVOGUE complies with high packing and delivery policies, making sure that all our products are sent in perfect condition. In the event of loss or damage during the delivery process, DHL’s shipping insurance will cover the costs, thereby freeing ANDINAVOGUE from all liability.
HANDMADE
MADE OF TOQUILLA STRAW
ETHICALLY MADE BY ECUADORIAN ARTISANS
MADE IN ECUADOR
*This is a hat handwoven in Ecuador.
The traditional weaving of the Ecuadorian Toquilla Straw Hat was inscribed in 2012 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
An Ecuadorian Handwoven Hat (popularly known as Panama* Hat) is a high-quality accessory that meets strict standards of production and it is appreciated all over the world. Each Toquilla Hat is a unique masterpiece created by an Ecuadorian craftstman or craftswoman.
The traditional weaving of our Toquilla Palm Hats is truly ancient. As far back as 4,0000 BC, Pre-Inca ceramic figurines wearing curious elongated headwear have been found on a number of Ecuadorian archeological sites. In 1526, when the Spanish conquistadors arrived in Ecuador, the natives of the coastal areas were observed to wear a brimless hat that resembled a “toque”( a type of hat with a narrow brim or no brim), which was woven from the fibers of a palm tree that the Spaniands came to call paja toquilla or "toquilla straw”.
At this point, hat weaving started to become as a village industry along the Ecuadorian coast as well as in small towns across the Andean mountain region.
The Toquilla Woven Hat production and wearing grew steadily in Ecuador through the 17th and 18th centuries.
The increase in demand for fast fashion goods has led to a disconnection of many products and their true heritage craft and origin story. Sadly, this is the case of the Panama* Hat.
The naming of our beloved Toquilla Straw Hat as Panama* Hat started in the 19th century, when Ecuadorian business men exported them to Panama. The hats were mostly sold to gold seekers traveling through Panama to California during the historical Californian Gold Rush. Travelers would tell people admiring their hats that they bought them in Panama. So, the hats quickly became known as "Panama Hats".
The name "Panama* Hat" was further reinforced by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt's trip to oversee the construction of the Panama Canal. Roosevelt posed for a series of photos wearing a Toquilla Sun Hat at the Panama Canal construction site in 1906, which further increased the hats' popularity.
At that point, the true Ecuadorian origin of this iconic accessory became widely unknown.
The World's Finest Toquilla Straw Hats
Even though Chinese companies have been producing "Panama* Hats" at a cheaper price, the quality of the product can't be compared with the Ecuadorian Paja Toquilla Hats.
The weaving techniques applied on each and every hat is a wealth of knowledge passed on from generation to generation mainly through observation from an early age.
Depending on the quality and finesse of the weaver and desired hat, it can take anywhere from one day to eight months to complete an Ecuadorian Toquilla Hat.
Our Ecuadorian Artisanal Weaving is an intagible treasure that deserves to be recognized and respected because it is so unique, skilled and it is also an important part of our wonderful Ecuadorian identity.
