The toquilla straw hat is Ecuadorian — the Panama hat name is a misnomer that attached itself to the product during its 19th-century export through the isthmus. Cuenca has long been the centre of the finest production, and Homero Ortega is among the city's established hat-making houses. The showroom and workshop in the historic centre make the production process visible: from raw toquilla fibre to finished and blocked brim, with grades varying by fineness of weave. The UNESCO inscription of the craft in 2012 acknowledged what the workshop demonstrates in practice — that producing a quality toquilla hat is a matter of accumulated knowledge rather than mechanical process. The hats for purchase are made on-site. Confirm hours and access before visiting.
Centro Histórico, Cuenca, Ecuador