PANAMA HAT identifies straw hats made in Ecuador. The main

 March 2015 PANAMA HAT identifies straw hats made in Ecuador. The main feature of these hats is that the raw material comes from a plant native to our country. The Panama hat, which is processed in a special way by Ecuadorian weavers using traditional techniques to produce these hats. The skilled artisan hands of our country, put all their effort and knowledge to produce high-­‐quality fine hats. Such is the quality of fine Ecuadorian straw hat toquilla, UNESCO has declared the hat as intangible cultural heritage. Despite its origin in Ecuador, the straw hats are known worldwide as PANAMA HAT. This name is because at the time of construction of the Panama Canal, the workers were using sun protection while working. When US President Theodore Roosevelt visited the Panama Canal, used these hats, which made them very well-­‐known worldwide. The PANAMA HAT comes from various parts of the country. The best known is from Montecristi in the province of Manabi. MONTECRISTI was the first designation of origin for non-­‐food product in South America accepted by experts from WIPO as true Designation of Origin in America. The area of Intangible assets and Intellectual Property, led by Bruce Horowitz, conducts ongoing pro-­‐
bono work towards protecting the MONTECRISTI, famous PANAMA HAT as Ecuador Geographical Indication, and raw material against use or registration as a trademark. Through a Letter of Warning/ Observations, our team worked with the stamp authority to refuse registration of the mark applied PURE STRAW TOQUILLA, arguing that this is a descriptive sign for the product to be traded on the market. We expect the team of intangible assets Paz Horowitz continue getting these achievements, for the protection of the Ecuadorian cultural heritage and fine Ecuadorian traditional industry. . Sincerely, Paz Horowitz