日本時代台中帽子的夏日記憶

在1903年台中刑務所也有做手工藝的傳統，當時的高屋典獄長心血來潮，研究鳳梨纖維再利用，材質適合夏天攜戴，被命名為「高屋帽」。

1910年代隨著鐵路的運輸發展，台中州的物產以蔬果聞名，台中為島都香蕉最大宗出口。1916年，有一位住在台中街的田中文行先生，發現香蕉纖維可以製帽，這是前所未有的研究，馬上向當時政府申請專賣特許，材料改良量產製造，色澤堪比林投帽，但是纖維比林投樹差了點，多為中下勞動階層的人穿戴，卻因物美價廉，「芭蕉帽」吹起全島及外銷風潮！

Memories of a Summer in Taichung

Taichung is widely known as the birthplace of hats, with a traditional hat-making industry dating back to the Qing Dynasty. The craftsmanship in this coastal region involves the use of materials such as straw and linthorpe fiber for weaving.

In 1903, even Taichung Prison embraced the artistry of handcrafted goods. The innovative Warden Takaya, inspired by a stroke of creativity, explored the use of pineapple fibers in hat-making. The lightweight and breathable nature of these hats made them perfect for the summer heat, earning them the name "Takaya Hat" in honor of the visionary warden.

By the 1910s, as railway transportation flourished, Taichung's agricultural produce, especially its bountiful fruits and vegetables, gained widespread acclaim. It was during this time that Tanaka Fumiyuki, a resident of Taichu Street, made a groundbreaking discovery. He realized that banana fibers could be skillfully woven into hats, presenting a novel use for this abundant local resource. Tanaka promptly sought government approval and diligently refined the production process to create hats of comparable quality to the esteemed linthorpe hats. Though the banana fiber fell slightly short in comparison, these hats found popularity among the working class due to their affordability and allure. Soon, the trend of the "banana hat" swept across the island, becoming a symbol of fashion and utility, and even gaining international recognition.