I have intended to find out why Panama hats are called Panama hats (since they are made in Ecuador) for a long time,but never happened to be by my computer at those times. You're in luck,today's the day! I was hoping for a nefarious explanation but that is not the case. There are several things that are behind the hats being known as Panama hats. One major factor was Panama's position as a trade and transportation center in the 1850s. Ecuador didn't see much trade or tourism so it exported the hats to Panama to sell,also Ecuador lacked the technology to stamp or label the hats saying "Made in Ecuador" so it wasn't immediately obvious where the hats came from. During the gold rush in California thousands traveled by boat through Panama as it was quicker than going by land across America. Many of these travelers purchased straw hats while passing through Panama,and when asked where they bought their hats they said Panama. In 1881 when work on the Panama Canal begin many of the workers wore the hats adding to the association with Panama. In 1906 the name was further cast in stone when President Teddy Roosevelt visited the Panama Canal and was photographed in a "Panama hat". The rest as they say is history!
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