Homero Ortega is the result of five generations dedicated to working with straw hats. Since the 70s our personnel perceived the need to open our doors, so the public could learn about our history and production process, in recognition of their cultural importance.

In 2008 we opened “The Magic of the Hat” Museum, the culmination of a museum project promoted by the firm in its desire to pursue our objectives more effectively. To this end we now have three rooms;
the first is dedicated to the history of the Panama hat, the second to the hat making process, and the last to the firm’s history. The museum is located within our corporate complex, so visitors can have an interactive experience by involving themselves in the production process.

Peoples and their identities will not be forgotten; the will maintain their character and personality so long as the products of their culture are many and are displayed in a permanent way.

We believe that sharing the magic of our hats with countrymen and foreigners alike is a good way to contribute to maintaining these cultural expressions that constitute an important part of our identity, and in this way, avoid their becoming lost in this globalized world in which we are immersed. Today, more than ever, highlighting our crafts, maintaining our customs and ancestral knowledge, and above all, transmitting them to future generations are priorities.

The Magic of the Hat Museum is an institutional member of ICOM Ecuador and ICOM Paris. ICOM is an international organization of museums associated with UNESCO.

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