Panama hat of the first towns to start weaving the hats in the Andes is Principal, part of the Chordeleg Canton in the Azuay province. Straw hats woven in Ecuador, like many other 19th and early 20th century South American goods, were shipped first to the Isthmus of Panama before sailing for their destinations in Asia, the rest of the Americas and Europe, subsequently acquiring a name that reflected their point of international sale—"panama hats"—rather than their place of domestic origin. The term was being used by at least 1834. The popularity of the hats increased in the mid-19th century when many
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