UNESCO Recognizes Panama Hat Important Part of Ecuadorian Identity

telesur.net reported..Hats and hat-making recognized by UNESCO as an important part of Ecuadoran identity.

Hats and hat-making have formed an important part of Ecuadorian identity, in times pre and post conquest. Since 1920, the family of Luis Lopez has been making hats, and since the 1940s, his been working out of La Ronda, a historic sector of Quito which has undergone an artistic revitalization in recent years. The owner of Humacatama Hats, Lopez learned the craft from his father and grandfather.

Lopez explained to TeleSUR that two hats which came to Latin America with the conquest are the English bowler hat and the Spanish Cordobes Hat. Once imposed on populations, their style and form changed slightly to having higher tops and wider rims.

Speaking about the history and use of hats brought to the colony, Lopez said, “Indigenous people, especially women, have the custom to not let the hat cover their whole head. It is simply balanced on top. If you have noticed in all of Latin America, indigenous people use it as only an accessory.” Read Article

HOTELS AND LODGING IN ECUADOR

THINKING OF MOVING OT ECUADOR – READ THIS BOOK FOR DEEPER CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING