Gadling recently had an article on souvenir hats.  Seeing how it is the summer and the sun is scorching here in Chicago, hats are pretty necessary to keep the rays off your face while out enjoying the city festivals, beaches, and parks. While I usually sport a baseball cap, many countries have signature hats. Panama is one of those countries with its namesake, the Panama Hat.

Here is what Gadling had to say about the Panama Hat:

A finely handwoven straw hat still made in Ecuador, even though Panama takes all the credit. Worn by: Teddy Roosevelt, Panama Jack, and the poor laborers who dug the Panama Canal. Cheap knock-off: Paper imitations are made in China and sell for little while lesser-quality imitations are made and sold all over Panama for under $30. The Real Deal: Like sheets, what counts in authentic Panama hats is thread count. The tighter the weave, the better the quality (real Panama Hats will hold water and have more than 1,000 fibers per square inch). Hats must be made in Ecuador from the toquilla plant and have a black silk band around the base. Buy at fine shops in Panama, in Ecuador, or else for several thousand dollars at Christie’s in London.

I haven’t seen many people around Chicago wearing a Panama hat but, hey it’s never too late to start a fashion trend. The brim is sure to keep the sun off your face while lounging at your new island home on Isla Palenque or in the Windy City!

Read the full article on Gadling here.