It was in 1986 that I first bought my first Panama hat and I've been wearing them ever since. I first saw them for sale through what was a really cool store at the time, Banana Republic. I say at the time because they were bought out by The Gap, and everything eventually went to Hell in a hand basket once corporate took over. Typical story when it comes to “Corporate”. It did take several years to happen, but it did.
Banana Republic was a whimsical escapism from reality specializing in Safari themed clothing. The stores had WW II army jeeps coming out through the front windows!
This certainly wasn't your average store. Regretfully, The Gap changed it into a boring mall store and tossed out all of the great quirks, like their monthly catalog, which was a paper catalog with drawings of their safari clothing, and fabulous anecdotes that went with them telling a fictionist stories that captivated the client. I always got a rush of excitement when I found it in my mail box every month.
However, I did get my first couple of hats through them before they turned into your basic, boring mall store.
Their quality was seriously good on everything, including the Panama hats. I recall their Panama's ran $89.00 for a top of the line “Fino”. Today, while the sky is the limit, a similar hat will run about $130.00.
I absolutely loved the Panama hats and when The Gap turned Banana Republic into a generic mall rat store, I went on safari in search of a new Panama. I learned a lot too!
I learned this next note earlier. Panama hats are not from Panama!
The story goes that when the Americans were building The Panama Canal, hats from Ecuador were brought in that they could shade their heads, while working digging the canal.
They were quite stylish and made from a straw, unique to Ecuador, called “Toquia” (say toe KEE a). The laborers building the canal realized they could make some money on the side selling the hats in the US, so they shipped them from Panama to San Francisco.
The retailers receiving the hats that were sent from Panama, just assumed they were from Panama and called them Panama Hats. The name stuck!
One of the cool things about Panama Hats when I bought that first one, was that they weren't all that common, so they were pretty unique. If you were wearing one and passed someone on the street who was also wearing one, you'd wave and say “Hey! Nice hat!”. It was kind of an exclusive club, without the exclusive club attitude and a fun attitude.
Over the last thirty-nine years I've had a good amount of Panamas and I loved every one! Plus, I've always had at least one. Sure, I've worn a lot of baseball caps, especially on boats where a Panama hat might go flying away with a wind gust. However, I've always had them.
Lately, at least here in Key West, things are accelerating in the Panama Hat sales. It's to the point that wearers no longer acknowledge each other any more. You'll see Panamas everywhere down here these days, it seems.
Hey, guess what? No matter what
happens, I'll always have a Panama Hat at my disposal!
Damn! Those are seriously classy hats!
Thank you for reading my blog! If you like, check out my music and books! My music is wherever you download your music from! Books are at Amazon.
Just search "Key West Chris"
