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
Witch Hats Hats toured Asia for the first time in November 2013, visiting China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea. A free collected works CD, "A China Selection" containing three new songs was given to patrons at shows. In an interview with the online publication "Shanghai 247", vocalist and primary songwriter Kris Buscombe discussed recording the band's third album, which he intends on sound engineering himself. Witch Hats released their third full-length album 'Deliverance' in July 2016. The album garnered a 4 star review by Guardian writer Andrew Stafford who praised its ""intense blasts of modern Australia as dystopian nightmare"" . "Deliverance"