The straw to handmade the traditional "panama hat" is taken from the leaves of the toquilla palm.

This palm only grows in Ecuador.

From the scratch, the panama hat tradition is a handmade process...

Cutting leaf by leaf, the people of this little coastal town in Ecuador, prepare the toquilla for the next step: cooking the straw.

The straw is cooked in water until it reaches the desired texture and the chlorophyll is evaporated.

The green leaves now turn into a beige color.

The straw dryes in the sun. In the rainy seasons the whole process slows down.

Once dry, the straw is ready to travel to the weaving regions: nearby Montecristi and Cuenca town.

The weaving starts from the crown of the hat all the way down to the brim.

To finish a standard panama hat it can take 2 or 3 days. The finer the grade of the hat the longer to make it.

The most expensive panama hats in the market can take more than 4 months to finish only one hat.

The panama hat tradition is from Ecuador.

The "panama" name has been given in the late 19th century when most of the Latin American commerce departed from Panama.

crochet technique

There is also an alternative technique using a needle: the crochet technique.

Panama hats are well known for having a soft texture.
In order to make the straw smooth the hat is hammered either by hand or with rustic mechanical machines.

In the picture this family works in the finishing of the hat once weaved.

To give the fedora shape (or any other) a press as seen is used.

Hat by hat and using the desired mold.

The last step to finish the hat is sewing the sweatband and the external band.

At greenpacha we design this final work to give to your greenpacha hat a stylish and unique look.

We give back 2% of greenpacha total sales to the weaving community of Sig Sig to honor their work and help them improve their life conditions.

As the founder of greenpacha I feel responsible for giving our monetary help, the right course.

That's is why I travel to South America twice a year and spend time with the weavers listening to what their needs are and also trying to learn more about this amazing tradition.

My sister and I meet in Ecuador in every opportunity to work together with the weavers.

She lives in South America and helps greenpacha both with the design and the production of our collections.

We hope you join us in this noble cause of helping preserve the panama hat tradition.

These women and the greenpacha team are looking forward to you finding your favorite greenpacha hat.

We also invite you to spread the word.

MUCHAS GRACIAS

Enjoy your hat.