The First Record of Straw Hats
The Panama Hat, deeply rooted in Ecuadorian heritage, has a captivating history. Evidence of woven straw hats worn by the coastal inhabitants of Ecuador dates back to 1200 B.C., as seen in ancient ceramic figures. When Spanish conquistadors arrived in the 16th century, they observed the locals wearing straw hats, which they called "toquillas." These hats evolved into the Montecristi hats in the 17th century, with the towns of Jipijapa and Montecristi becoming renowned hat-weaving centers. The straw, later scientifically named Carludovica Palmata, gained popularity among Spanish colonial nobility.
First Modern Hat, Business and the Conception of the Name of the Famous Hat
In 1835, Manuel Alfaro established a modern hat production business in Montecristi, and Panama became the strategic hub for exporting these hats. This association led to the name "Panama Hats." Around the same time, Cuenca in Azuay Province began producing hats, creating a significant local industry. The Gold Rush of 1848 and the World Fair in Paris in 1855 further boosted the hat's international fame. By 1849, Ecuador was exporting hundreds of thousands of hats to the USA, with notable figures like Emperor Napoleon III and the Prince of Wales donning Panama hats.
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
President Theodore Roosevelt was famously photographed wearing a Panama Hat, and Hollywood celebrities further made them a stylish trend. In 2012, the traditional weaving of the Ecuadorian toquilla straw hat was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, marking another milestone in the hat's storied history.
Introducing
The Fedora Hat
The shift of fashion for both women and men
The fedora hat has a rich history that spans several centuries. In the late 19th century, it emerged as a practical and stylish alternative to the elaborate bonnets and wide-brimmed hats of the Victorian era. With its shorter brim providing better protection from the elements, the fedora quickly became popular among women. The term “fedora” was in use by 1891, named after the heroine in Victorien Sardou’s 1882 play “Fédora,” where the character Princess Fédora Romazoff wore a distinctive center-creased, soft-brimmed hat, which became a symbol of the women’s rights movement.
The Fedora reached its zenith of sophistication, becoming a staple for men
By the early 1900s, the fedora gained widespread popularity among men, reaching its peak of sophistication in the 1920s and 1930s. It became a fashion staple, particularly after Edward, Prince of Wales, adopted it. The fedora not only exuded style but also offered practical benefits against wind and weather. In the early 20th century, black fedoras were incorporated into the traditional dress of many Haredi and other Orthodox Jews. Today, the fedora remains an enduring icon, symbolizing both the classic film noir detective and the dapper gentleman, continuing its legacy in the world of headwear for both men and women.