Claudio Contreras / Maya woman weaving Panama hat with fibres of Jipijapa (Carludovica palmata) a palm-like perennial plant, Santa Cruz Hacienda, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June

Claudio Contreras / Maya woman weaving Panama hat with fibres of Jipijapa (Carludovica palmata) a palm-like perennial plant, Santa Cruz Hacienda, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June

Doug Wechsler / Panama hat palm (Carludovica palmata) source of fiber for hats, not actually a palm, Province El Oro, Buenaventura Biological Reserve, Ecuador

Alan Watson / Cauliflorous flowers of a Pringamosa tree (Urera caracasana) and fronds of a Panama hat palm (Carludovica palmata) in lowland tropical rainforest, Coqui, Chocó Department, Pacific Coast, Colombia

DOMINIC JOHNSON / Panama Hat Palm (Carludovica rotundifolia) fruit, near Corcovado National Park, Osa Peninsular, Costa Rica, May 2008

Pete Oxford / Alberto Pulla, Panama hat maker, Cuenca, Andes, Ecuador Hats made from Toquilla straw

Pete Oxford / Fausto Mero (aged 95-yrs) making Panama hats, Montecristi, Ecuador. 2004

Pete Oxford / Eva Mero ironing Panama hats, Montecristi, Ecuador 2004