This is Randi Hacker with another Postcard from Abroad from the KU Centers for East Asian Studies and Latin American and Caribbean Studies.

Here in the tiny, virtually deserted town of Montecristi, one of Ecuador’s most famous exports is crafted - the Panama hat. That’s right. Although it’s called a Panama hat, it’s actually woven in Ecuador using a centuries old technique recently added to the UNESCO intangible heritage list. Authentic Panama hats or sombreros de paja toquilla, and are made out of toquilla straw split into strands so fine and woven so deftly that the hats appear to be made of linen. Each hat is woven over several months by one single artisan and carries a final price tag of close to two thousand dollars. Once the go-to hat for discerning men of adventure, including presidents –Teddy Roosevelt -- and movie stars –Sean Connery -- decreasing demand and cheap, mass produced imitations, have, alas, put the authentic Panama hat on the endangered chapeau list.

With thanks to Danika Swanson for this text, from the KU Center for East Asian Studies, this is Randi Hacker. Wish you were here.