This hat’s fame grew in the 19th century during the construction of the Panama Canal.

On Tuesday, the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI) informed that the Ecuadorian team will receive Montecristi hats, made from toquilla straw, to wear at the 2026 World Cup, where they will face Germany, Ivory Coast, and Curaçao in the group stage.

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Each hat will feature the logos of the OEI and the Municipality of Montecristi, which are promoting the project to safeguard traditional Ecuadorian weaving.

Sara Jaramillo, OEI director in Ecuador, emphasized that preserving toquilla straw connects cultural heritage with productive development, reinforcing cultural identity and the economic value of artisan communities.

The initiative incorporates virtual reality (VR) technology, offering immersive tours of rural communities in Manabi that showcase weaving techniques, historical sites, and the cultural legacy passed down through generations.

In addition, each hat will feature a QR code that certifies its origin and provides access to the stories of the artisans behind the piece, ensuring traceability and transparency in the international market.

The Montecristi hat, known worldwide as the Panama Hat, originated in Ecuador in the 16th century. Its fame grew in the 19th century and during the construction of the Panama Canal, when it was exported on a massive scale.

In 2012, the toquilla straw weaving technique was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognizing its historical, artistic, and social value.

teleSUR: JP

Source: EFE

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