Nepenthes Los Angeles introduces a new selection of handwoven hats from Ecua-Andino, the Ecuadorian maker whose work reflects decades of regional craft and cultural tradition. This release includes two distinct styles, the Classic Panama and the Hippie, each featuring the Nepenthes Los Angeles name on the interior band. Constructed from the leaves of the jipijapa palm, these hats are known for their lightness, breathability, and natural comfort in warm weather.
Available at Nepenthes Los Angeles.
Ecua-Andino began in 1985, when founders Alejandro Lecaro and Édgar Sánchez started selling their hats on the beaches of Guayaquil before opening a small shop in the city center. Their work slowly expanded beyond Ecuador’s borders, eventually bringing Alejandro to a trade show in Las Vegas in the early 1990s, where he met Engineered Garments designer Daiki Suzuki. This collaboration, nearly thirty years later, reconnects that early encounter.
Each hat is woven entirely by hand, a process that requires patience and skill. The Classic Panama is defined by a tight, fine weave that produces a subtle diamond pattern across the crown and brim. The result is clean and understated, with an emphasis on texture and proportion. The Hippie Hat takes a different approach. Its weave forms an irregular, brick-like pattern that feels more relaxed, allowing for expressive variations in tone and rhythm. This casual structure, combined with color options ranging from natural straw to multicolor rainbow, gives the Hippie its distinct character.
Both styles originate from a tradition deeply rooted in Ecuador. The phrase “Panama Hat” has long been a misnomer. These hats were woven in Ecuador for centuries before international audiences adopted the name, partially due to the Panama Canal’s prominence and photographs of President Theodore Roosevelt wearing an Ecuadorian hat during a visit to the construction site. The true lineage, however, belongs to the communities who cultivated jipijapa palm and perfected weaving techniques across generations.
In Los Angeles, where the sun shapes daily life, these hats offer function and ease. The Classic Panama sits well with understated warm-weather dressing, while the Hippie’s texture and color options introduce a more playful approach. Both carry the imprint of handwork, with slight variations in the weave that speak to the individual artisan behind each piece.
The Ecua-Andino collection for Nepenthes Los Angeles is available now in a range of styles and colorways, each one connecting Ecuadorian craft with the rhythm of the city.
