Panama Hats
Panama Hats | Hand-Blocked Toquilla Straw | Laird London
Fine toquilla straw, hand-finished in the UK. Laird Panama hats are handwoven by artisans in Ecuador — where the craft has been practised for centuries and is recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage — then finished in our workshop to the standards of a traditional British hatter.
Despite the name, panama hats have always been made in Ecuador. They earned the misnomer during the construction of the Panama Canal, when these sought-after straw hats were shipped to the world via the Isthmus of Panama — and gained lasting fame when President Roosevelt was photographed wearing one on site. When you wear yours, you carry a small piece of that history.
How to choose your panama
Our collection spans classic Cuenca weaves — well-structured, durable, and suited to everyday summer wear — through to rare Superfino grade Montecristi hats, woven so finely that legend holds a true Superfino can pass through a wedding ring. The distinction lies in the weave: the tighter it is, the more refined the finish, the lighter the hat sits on the head.
For brim width: a wider brim suits garden parties, race days, and longer stretches in the sun. A shorter brim or straw trilby silhouette sits more cleanly with tailored dress. Both are available in this collection, in styles for men and women.
Materials & craft
Toquilla straw is one of the few natural materials that remains genuinely comfortable in summer heat. The open weave allows air to circulate freely, keeping the head cool without sacrificing structure. Each hat in this collection is handwoven to order by artisans in Ecuador, then hand-blocked and finished in the UK — a process that ensures the crown holds its shape through the season.
No two hats are identical. The variation in the straw is part of what makes each one its own.
Occasions
A panama sits equally well at Royal Ascot, a summer wedding, or an afternoon on the terrace. Pair with a linen suit or tailored blazer for a considered, dressed look. With a polo, chinos, or a light summer dress, it requires no effort at all. This is the hat that moves between occasions without adjustment — never overdressed, never underdressed.
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