Description
The sombrero pintao is a cultural symbol of Panamanian folklore and until now there is no industrial process for its manufacture, everything is done by hand and its techniques are passed down from generation to generation, which makes it special and expensive.
They are typical of the district of La Pintada, in the central province of Coclé, are hand-made with fibers and natural dyes, have a rounded crown and their wings are not very wide. Its cost can range between $ 35 and $ 1,000, depending on the technique and skill of the artist and the time available to prepare it. The quality of the same depends on the ‘turns’ that it has, which can vary between 15 and 24.
Let’s make it clear that we should not confuse the ‘sombrero pintao’ with the so-called Panama Hat, which despite its name actually comes from Pile, a small town in the province of Manabí, in Ecuador. It became famous in the Central American country and is part of Panamanian culture since the late nineteenth century, since it was imported en masse for use by the construction workers of the Panama Canal.