Panama hat "color"

[poetman]

So are the natural/beige ones more authentic looking? What are they wearing in Panama?

 

[danofarlington]

I've seen white, and I've seen natural, and white seems a little stark to me.

 

[barrowjh]

The hats are largely just an export business for Ecuador where the weaving is a tradition going back to before the Europeans entered the Americas. They were shipped up the coast to Panama for export to the world markets, and 'forty-niners' on their way to California via Panama began spreading their reputation. Nowadays those folks tend to wear baseball-style caps just like we do, and the finest Montecristi llano-weave hats are sold to the wealthy that want to wear a piece of art, literally.

 

[Espee]

I saw Jaxson Safaris last year with black or green bands. Black is fine for almost everything, and I couldn't justify two. But green would be neat with a few colors...