The Panama Hat Trail

I very much enjoyed this book as a lead-up to my visit to the home of the Panama Hat, which as you should know is...Ecuador! Although the book was written a number of years ago, the information about the hats, the country and the people appears to remain accurate. Mr. Miller's style and the details he includes kept me engaged all the way through (and made me, I'd like to think, a more knowledgeable visitor and hat buyer!)

My lifelong interest in travel literature began when, as a child, I read Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas's account of his travels among the Kurdish People of the Middle East. Miller's book is a good read on traveling in Ecuador (where the best panama hats are made), written by a professional writer in this genre (ON THE BORDER, TRADING WITH THE ENEMY: TRAVELS THROUGH CASTRO'S CUBA). This "hat classic" (my opinion), is Miller's first-hand account as he follows the making of Panama hats from the growing and harvesting of the plant material (cardoluvica palmata), through the process of its curing and preparation for weaving, the weaving itself, the various markets along the way, the chain of distribution of the hat bodies, their exportation around the world, the making of finished hats in a North American hat factory, and the sale to a San Diego retail hat store. The story ends when the final customer buys a panama hat in the retail store. Reading this book cannot help but seal one's appreciation for this materiel de resistance of the straw hat business.

Being an Ecuadorian I really enjoyed the way the author captured the personality and idiosyncrasies of the people he meets along his journey. His descriptions of the countryside and life in Ecuador are very accurate.

Tom Miller is an excellent traveling companion, informative, friendly, sympathetic to his hosts.

This book draws a wonderful and accurate picture of South America, in particular Ecuador, as seen through the eyes of a Westerner. Especially for anyone who has back-packed in these areas in the seventies and eighties, the country comes alive and one finds oneself transported back there through the author's straightforward style, gentle humour and empathy with the people and landscape. The story of the making of Panama hats, from growing the straw through to retailing the product in quality outlets throughout the States is fascinating. The life styles, understanding and expectations of the various people in the chain are portrayed in a way that captures the imagination and surrounds the reader with their reality. At the same time, one's awareness is drawn in a gentle manner and without accusation, to the situation of the "plebs" of third world countries, exploited by and dependent on the West. A satisfying book to read, very interesting and an enjoyable way to learn some of the history of the area.