Panama Hats

Panama hats are made from the unusual toquilla palm that comes from Equador. The toquilla straw makes a fine hat and all genuine Panama hats are made from this plant. 

The Panama hat history goes all the way back to the 16th century. However, in the 1800s there were no market for hats in Equador, which led to them shipping hats all around the world. All the hats were first shipped to Panama, which was a popular tourist location for sailors and explorers - that all wanted straw hats, that led to the hats trending and that was where the name was founded, not in its country of orgin.