While people may think of a summer suit as being made of linen, traditionally it is made of wool or cotton. Although it is surprising to think of a summer suit in wool, the wool used for panama suiting is very light and fine. Wool works because it has excellent insulating properties (it keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer). Wool can absorb and wick out moisture without giving the damp feeling of other fabrics. Additionally, wool is more capable of absorbing or preventing odors so that it does not need to be washed as often as cotton or linen and it resists wrinkling better than linen or cotton. All of this does not stop someone from making a suit in linen and calling it a Panama suit. However, as shown below, it is traditionally made of cotton or wool.

Panama - A Plain Weave Fabric Traditionally Of Cotton Or Wool. Used For Summer Suitings And Dresses.
http://www.fibre2fashion.com/glossary/glossary14.htm
http://www.narrow-fabrics-manufacturers.com/glossary-of-prod...
http://www.paoli.it/eng/supporto/glossario6.htm
http://www.textileconnexion.com/librarydictionary.asp

Panama – [1] A light-weight all wool material
[2] A Plain Weave Fabric Traditionally Of Cotton Or Wool. Used For Summer Suitings And Dresses.
http://www.textileglossary.com/terms/panama.html

Textile Fabrics by Elizabeth Dyer
Panama cloth. An open-mesh wool fabric of medium-weight yarns in a plain weave. Very serviceable but nothttp://hearth.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?... beautiful, resists dust, does not wrinkle badly, and is strong.
Uses: Suits, skirts, and coats for hard wear.
http://hearth.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?...

Panama (fabric) - A clear-finished, plain-weave fabric, approximately square construction, typically with a density of 170-240 g/m2 generally used for men's tropical suitings.
http://textile.texworld.com/informationcenter/texdefinitions...

3 Button Front Charcoal Panama Suit Jacket
Traditionally made from a 10oz cloth with a three button front, four button cuffs, centre vent, slanting pockets including an outside ticket pocket. Lined in green with a striped sleeve lining. We recommend a long fitting for heights of 6 ft and over. **100% wool**, dry clean only.
http://www.pakeman.co.uk/mens-single-breasted-suits.asp

Vintage Men’s Clothing Lot… there is also a **cotton**su double-breasted Panama suit with belt back and button fly pants and 34” waist and 29” inseam.
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-MEN-S-CLOTHING-LOT-SHIRTS-PANAMA...


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Note added at 5 hrs (2008-01-13 17:33:57 GMT)
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I meant to say, "While people may think of a **Panama** suit as being made of linen... "

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Note added at 5 hrs (2008-01-13 17:46:42 GMT)
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Other than works of fiction or blogs, I haven't found a reference for "Panama suit/ing" in linen.

Additional references:
All wool panama suit for stout figures
http://www.marquise.de/en/1900/pics/1910/1910b.shtml

Poly/Wool/Mohair Panama Suiting.
http://www.harrisonsburley.co.uk/index.php?f=data_our_produc...

Varities for summer season… 1-Prime cotton panama suiting
http://www.aruj.com.pk/area.htm

Subject: Panama suiting
Fabric Use: suiting
Fabric Content: polyester /cotton or similar
Weight: medium/light
http://www.fabrics.net/swatch/member/thread.asp?threadid=219...


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Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2008-01-14 16:40:33 GMT)
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PANAMA - fabrics - Very lightweight fabric used for men’s summer and tropical wear and women’s dresses. Very lightweight fabric used for men’s summer and tropical wear and women’s dresses. The yarns used are cotton and worsted [wool] in the traditional Panama cloth, although other fibres such as polyester and viscose are sometimes used. The cloth has a recognisable square-weave effect, and is usually in plain colours. A crisp fabric.
PANAMA CANVAS - fabrics - A canvas of matt weave that is given a beetled finish and used for embroidery purposes. A canvas of matt weave that is given a beetled finish and used for embroidery purposes.
PANAMA HAT - garments, made-ups, assemblies - Men’s and women’s straw hat made from fine, hand-plaited, creamy coloured toquilla straw. Men’s and women’s straw hat made from fine, hand-plaited, creamy coloured toquilla straw. Panama hats are mainly made in Ecuador.
PANAMA WEAVE - fabrics - A weave which consists of several warp and weft threads crossing each other at once A weave which consists of several warp and weft threads crossing each other at once, producing a mat-like effect
http://www.resil.com/dictionary/p.htm


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Note added at 3 days17 hrs (2008-01-17 05:32:06 GMT) Post-grading
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You're welcome, Poj, and thank you :-)