Panama hat mountain range. Hat weaving and wearing grew steadily in Ecuador through the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1835, Manuel Alfaro, a man who in many ways can be considered the grandfather of the Panama hat, arrived in Montecristi to make his name and fortune in Panama hats. He set up a Panama hat business with his main objective being exportation. Cargo ships from Guayaquil and Manta were filled with his merchandise and headed to the Gulf of Panama. His business prospered as more and more Gold Rush prospectors arrived and passed through Panama needing a hat for the sun. One
Hats (album) "absolutely superb", David Cavanagh of "Sounds" found that "Hats" differed significantly from "A Walk Across the Rooftops" in both its recording technology and aspired moods. Johnny Black of "Q" noted the more stripped-down nature of the album's songs and praised the band's new direction, stating that "if "Hats" has a flaw, it's only that it's too perfect, too considered." "NME"s David Quantick felt that the album demonstrated the band's flair for writing "incredibly simple-sounding, emotional records about the stuff that fascinates them." Simon Reynolds, writing in "Melody Maker", stated that "only the laziest ear would confuse this crystalline perfection with