 An Ecuadorian hat | |
| Type | Hat |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Ecuador |
| Traditional weaving of the Ecuadorian toquilla straw hat | |
|---|---|
| Country | Ecuador |
| Reference | 00729 |
| Region | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2012 (7th session) |
| List | Representative |
An Ecuadorian hat, also known as a Panama hat, a Jipijapa hat, or a toquilla straw hat, is a traditional brimmed straw hat of Ecuadorian origin. Traditionally, hats were made from the plaited leaves of the Carludovica palmata plant, known locally as the toquilla palm or Jipijapa palm,[1] although it is a palm-like plant rather than a true palm.
Ecuadorian hats are light-colored, lightweight, and breathable, and often worn as accessories to summer-weight suits, such as those made of linen or silk. The tightness, the finesse of the weave, and the time spent in weaving a complete hat out of the toquilla straw characterize its quality. Beginning around the turn of the 20th century, these hats became popular as tropical and seaside accessories owing to their ease of wear and breathability.[citation needed]
The art of weaving the traditional Ecuadorian toquilla hat was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists on 5 December 2012.[2]
- ^ "Panama hat, n." Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved 21 February 2012. (subscription required)
- ^ "Traditional weaving of the Ecuadorian toquilla straw hat". UNESCO. Retrieved 24 April 2014.