A Guide to the Best of Southern California : HANDMADE : Hats Off

The best Humphrey Bogart impression goes over even better if you’re wearing an authentic Panama hat.

The genuine article, available at the Kula Bay Tropical Clothing Co., has been woven for generations in Montecristi, Ecuador, by craftsmen who labor for two to six months to create just one. Priced from $390 to $3,200, depending on the tightness of weave, the hats are framed in three styles: Optimo (a la Humphrey Bogart), Fedora (Frank Sinatra) and Plantation (Greg Norman). These durable creations, made from the fine straw of the jipijapa plant, beribboned with pre-World War II silk and initialed by the craftsman, readily bounce back into shape when crushed.

Bully for you if you know how they got their name. President Teddy Roosevelt popularized the headgear in 1906 after he was photographed wearing one while shoveling dirt for the Panama Canal. Panama hats are available at Kula Bay Tropical Clothing Co. outlets, at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel, 1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena, (818) 792-6675; South Coast Plaza, 333 Bristol St., Suite 2612, Costa Mesa, (714) 557-6163; Seaport Village, 849 W. Harbor Drive, San Diego, (619) 236-0088.