The Other Panama Hat

The moment I set foot in Panama, I was captivated by the people I met - the woman hand-sewing a mola, the man helping me park my car. Yet one thing nagged at my curiosity—

Everyone insisted that the Panama hat wasn’t actually from Panama. 

This intriguing contradiction puzzled me. I asked local vendors in Casco Viejo, but their answers didn’t go beyond "the Panama hat is actually from Ecuador." I felt compelled to unravel this mystery.

It was during a stroll through Coclé that I first encountered the sombrero pinta’o. Watching the craftsmanship that went into the weaving of this hat, which I initially mistook for a simple straw hat, I was captivated. I watched as this man’s fingers moved with precision and grace, each motion a testament to years of practice and tradition.

“You’re looking at the real Panama hat,”

He said with a knowing smile, having noticed my curiosity.

His words piqued my interest, and I couldn’t help but ask him to share more. As we settled into a shaded corner of the market, he began to unravel the tale, weaving it as delicately as the fibers in his hands.

I felt honored that he took the time to tell it to me, and this is why I’m so compelled to share - Why one hat can cost only $10 and another $1000.

He explained how the pinta’o originated in Coclé, crafted meticulously from local plants like bellota and chonta. These hats were not just an accessory; they are a symbol of Panamanian identity, passed down through generations. 

I listened as he told me his own family had been making these hats for over five generations.

“Each hat tells a story,” he said, “a story of our people, our culture, and our connection to the land.”

He told me the hats on display range in price because of the tightness of the weave and complexity of the pattern.

A hat with less than 15 turns takes about 10 days to make and will cost under $100, while a more intricate deisgned can take months, and the cost can be over $1000.

While to the untrained eye, a hat may be a hat, here I began to see the craftsmanship and the hours behind each row, as I watched him delicately weave a hat for a local man that he had been working on for over a month. 

In 2017, UNESCO added the Pinta’o to its List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognizing the knowledge, traditions, and rituals that are essential components of a culture.

The artisans are part of the whole process, from caring for the plants to transforming the raw materials and weaving the fibers. The hat is part of traditional attire worn throughout various regions of the country during folk dances and community celebrations.

According to a report from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Panama, the Artisan Registry database includes 341 makers of pinta’os. Most of these artisans are connected through family ties, as hat-making is often a family endeavor.

As I learnt about the real Panama Hat in a small market in Coclé, I realized that the sombrero pinta’o was more than just a hat; it was a cultural emblem, a testament to the artistry and resilience of the Panamanian people. 

The Panama hat made famous by President Roosevelt, also ranges in price based on the tightness of the weave, but after this encounter the pinta’os hats carried the weight of history and tradition. 

By the time I left Coclé, I carried with me not just a beautifully crafted pinta’o, but also a deeper appreciation for the rich tapestry of Panamanian heritage. Each time I wear the hat, I’m reminded of generations of artisans who have kept this tradition alive. It’s a piece of Panama that I’ll cherish forever, a symbol of discovery and the unexpected stories that lie beneath the surface of the things we think we know.