Tour a Panama hat factory in Sigsig, Ecuador

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We also have worked with our wholesaler, encouraging him to buy hats directly from weavers at a consistent and fair price instead of going through middlemen. This eliminates the middlemen's extra and often unfair mark-up...and gets more money into the hands of the skilled artisans actually creating the hat.

Another problem weavers face is the seasonal aspect of their work.

South American unemployment statistics can be misleading. Underemployment is actually the more widespread problem. Men and women pick up seasonal odd jobs; when the work is complete, they’re thrust into another span of uncertainty: how long before the next job? How to make ends meet?

We're fighting underemployment in several creative ways. First, we buy hats year-round so weavers will not hurt for income during low season. To keep weavers weaving, we've collected what's probably the largest inventory of Panama hats in the U.S.

Please let me know if you'd like further info about our efforts in Ecuador!

Sincerely,
Jessica Downing
The Panador Hat Company

www.PanadorHats.com

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