Fine strands intertwined with precise harmony give shape to an Ecuadorian icon that we wear with pride – the toquilla straw hat, a piece that transcends all borders. Even Hollywood stars wear with great fascination the well-known ¨Panama Hat¨, which is actually made in Ecuador.
Its relevance is immense, so much so that UNESCO declared the Traditional Weaving of the Toquilla Straw Hat as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A soft, fine, and elegant garment of great historical value.
The Carludovica Palmata plant, from which the toquilla straw is obtained, takes approximately two years to grow and reaches a height of five meters. At that point, it is ready to be extracted and the hand-weaving of the hats begins. The weaving process can take from days to weeks, depending on its quality and fineness.
Homero Ortega
When the ancestral merges with the contemporary, fascinating creations are born. Homero Ortega produces the finest toquilla straw hats – an emblematic product of the identity and culture of Cuenca. This family business has been designing, producing, and selling straw hats for more than 100 years, thus contributing to its diffusion as a 100% Ecuadorian product.
Museo La Magia del Sombrero
A project promoted by the company Homero Ortega to pay tribute to this art, and to discover the origin and history of the ancestral hats. During your visit, you will be able to see how hats are made, learn about their different shapes, distinguish the types of fabrics, and appreciate exclusive designs. The museum has three rooms – the first one is dedicated to the history of the toquilla straw hat; the second one, to its elaboration process, and the last one, to the company’s trajectory. The museum is located inside Homero Ortega’s facilities so that visitors can have an interactive experience and get directly involved with the production process.
Guided tours in Spanish and English.
Entrance: Free.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8 AM to 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Saturdays from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, and Sundays from 9AM to 11 AM by appointment.
Contact: (07) 280-9000
@homeroortegahats
Avenida Gil Ramírez Dávalos 3-86
Toquilla Straw Hat Museum
A true custodian of this tradition and tourist icon in Cuenca, which began its activities as an export factory in 1947 and opened its doors as a museum in 1999. The ‘Museo del Sombrero de Paja Toquilla’ was created to pay a well-deserved tribute to the skilled hands of the artisans who make them, and in it, you will learn more about this mastery inherited by generations. In addition, you will be able to acquire a hat genuinely at the forefront of fashion.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 6:30 PM, Saturdays from 9:30 AM to 5 PM, and Sundays from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Contact: 098 236 2998
info@museodelsombrero.com.ec
@museodelsombrero
Calle Larga 10-41 and Padre Aguirre streets
Municipal Economuseum Casa del Sombrero
An exemplary community museum that carries out projects of social, popular, and solidarity economy in order to favor the promotion of this intangible heritage and highlight the identity of Cuenca. It was inaugurated on November 14, 2014, as part of a plan to safeguard the toquilla straw hat weaving, an art that on December 5, 2012, was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM and Saturdays from 9 AM to 2 PM
Rafael María Arízaga 7-95 and Luis Cordero streets
Basketry
An environmentally friendly alternative to the use of plastic for everyday tasks. Here is how wicker, guadua cane, and reed become baskets, bowls, blowers, lamps, fans, and much more than you can imagine. Traditionally, the main craft center for basketry and other utilitarian and decorative products, including small souvenirs for tourists, has been the parish of San Joaquín, in Cuenca.
If you wish to purchase basketry items such as baskets, bread baskets, cutlery organizers, table centerpieces, flower arrangement bases, and more, you can visit Plaza Rotary, located between Sangurima and Vargas Machuca streets.
We invite you to discover, get to know, be surprised, and take home a special souvenir of your visit to Cuenca. If you are into handicrafts, want a distinctive garment to add to your outfit, or just value our local art, you can appreciate up close the work of the most skilled hands in Ecuador. Cuenca is waiting for you to come and weave your dreams!
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