News

Human Treasures

Posted on February 08, 2013 by METIER . | 0 Comments

Not just any hat, but a piece of cultural heritage of humanity. These hand-woven hats have been around for longer than anyone could keep track. Their Spanish name was brought up by the Spaniards conquistadors that first arrived to Ecuador and saw the native people wearing them. Since they resembled the Spanish "tocas" they called them "toquillas". Made of young palm leaves which are boiled, dried and bleached, these hats are soft, airy, flexible, light, classy, elegant, ..., perfect! 

They are famously, or rather infamously, known worldwide as "Panama Hats" because Panama was the biggest port of commerce for them. When someone bought one of these hats there and went home, it was inevitable to be asked where such great hat was bought. The trouble is that where it was bought, was not the same place where it was made. Ecuador is the only place in the world where these beauts are made and where this tradition has lived for centuries.

Finally, on the 5th of December of 2012, a new era started for this specialty hat. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially inscribed it on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 

"Intangible Cultural Heritage is our bridge from the past to the future. It is the way we understand the world and the means by which we shape it. It is a foundation of wisdom and knowledge upon which to build sustainable development for all." -UNESCO

Posted in inspiration, intangible cultural heritage, lifestyle, panama hats, treasures, UNESCO, weavers

Miami Beach Polo 2012

Posted on March 30, 2012 by METIER . | 1 Comment

This year we are sponsoring the MIAMI BEACH POLO. Visit our booth over the sand. Find us on the official magazine of the event. April 26-29.

For more info about the event: http://www.miamipolo.com/

Posted in lifestyle, micaela's scholarship, panama hats, sponshorships and events, weavers

My Way

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Trading Rural Efforts TRE | 0 Comments

Hi everyone. It's my turn to post on our new blog so I decided to hand-write it, this way I can share with you my undeveloped talent/metier for drawing. There she is, Maria Rosa, one of the first weavers I got to meet in Ecuador when METIER was getting borned. I will never forget her words:" Our children are not weaving any more". This made me reforce our mission and inspired me even more to rescue this tradition, a one of a kind in the whole world: weaving the so famous "panama" hats. Hope you enjoy it and understand my letter! Have a great week and welcome to our new web page!!!

Best regards, 

HUGO.
Co-founder.

PS: english is my second language so sorry for any mistake, I have no liquid-paper!

Posted in founders, inspiration, lifestyle, panama hats, weavers