Contrary to popular belief, the Panama hat originates from Ecuador and not Panama. In fact, the plant fiber (paja toquilla) used to make it comes from palm trees that only grow on the Ecuadorian coast. These mythical hats, entirely handmade in Ecuador from these same trees, were declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO on December 5, 2012. Hat / Accessory / Hat for men / Hat for women / summer /