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

Pete Oxford / Pabla Reses boiling and then drying paja toquilla (straw), used to make Panama hats, Barcelona, Ecuador. 2005

Pete Oxford / Boiling paja toquilla (straw) used to make Panama hats, Barcelona, Ecuador

Pete Oxford / Eufemia Poso stripping veins from green Paja toquilla leaves (straw) before boiling and drying them to make Panama hats, Barcelona, Ecuador 2005

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