design
Airy & Lightweight
Our first-ever product and the piece that started it all. The traditional silhouette is now a seasonal favorite, featuring a narrow brim and a contrasting grosgrain ribbon bow.
quality
Handwoven in Ecuador
Handcrafted by artisans in their homes using heritage techniques recognized by UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
sustainability
Renewable Resource
Made from toquilla straw, a renewable resource made from young palm fronds that are harvested without harming the main tree.
Behind the Ecuadorian Icon
Each hat is a historical art piece, handwoven with the skills and knowledge passed generation of Ecuadorian Indigenous women.
The Misnaming of an Icon
Over the years the rise of mass production techniques in the retail industry has diminished the demand for locally-crafted goods, resulting in a disconnection between a product and its true heritage craft and origin story. Our Ecuador Hat is a perfect example. Widely known as the Panama Hat, it was named after the design was massively exported from Ecuador to Panama during the 19th century. Theodore Roosevelt was then famously photographed wearing this hat during the Panama Canal inauguration, which gave the hat its global recognition. At that point, the true Ecuadorian origin of this treasure became widely unknown. Our mission is to give Ecuador and its skilled weavers the respect and recognition they deserve for creating this iconic design.
An Ecuadorian Treasure
What it took for one hat to get to your house is the story of craftsmanship passed down over generations, hundreds of thousands of hours of skilled labor, and an ongoing battle to give recognition to the artisans who created the original design.
In the 1600s, indigenous Ecuadorian people created the art of weaving toquilla straw. Since then, the majority female weavers have supported their traditional lifestyles by selling their craft. This hat is, by definition, a representation of Ecuadorian history and heritage. Each hat is a work of art, taking at least eight hours to make. From palm frond to finish, the process of creating the hat is a true labor of love.
Heritage Craftsmanship
A Summer Icon
Light and versatile, our handwoven hat makes for the perfect piece to top off your everyday looks this sunny season and beyond.
