The Carludovica Palmata plant whose leaves provide the paja toquilla straw for Panama hats are grown in large plantations in the elevated coastal areas of western Ecuador.

Image: A Toquilla plantation in the region of Manabi.

The plant takes over three years to reach full maturity during which time its stalks grow to a height of 4 - 6 meters. The finest quality leaves are found towards the base of the plant where the new shoots grow.

Image: A young Carludovica Palmata plant

Harvesting takes place in 30-45 day cycles. The leaves are cut by hand, bundled and transported to the harvester's villages, usually by horse or donkey.

Image: Transporting the bundles of Toquilla straw by horse.

The toquilla leaves are first split or torn into thin filaments or straw. After cleaning the straw is then boiled or 'cooked' before being dried and bleached by the sun. The straw is then sorted by thickness and bound to produce bundles of paja toquilla straw around a meter in length ready for transportation to the weavers.

Image: Boiling or 'cooking' the straw.