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The Panama Hat by Richard Manin
The weaving of hats "Paja Toquilla" has been known ever since the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. Natives from the Ecuadorian province of Manabi have been weaving hats with Paja Toquilla straw for many years. Using fibres from palm leaves (Scientific name of Carludouica Palmata) the residents of Jipijapa and MonteCristi used to weave what they call Tocas, a type of straw hat wrapped around their heads for protection from the sun. The finest of those Tocas were later called Toquillas, this being the origin for the name of hats made with Paja Toquilla.
