The concept of a broad-brimmed hat with a high crown worn by a rider on horseback can be seen as far back as the Mongolian horsemen of the 13th century.
A tall crown provided insulation, the wide brim, shade. In hot, sunny climates, hats evolved to have wide brims, such as the sombrero of Mexico.
Cowboy hats go back to almost the inception of the cowboy himself. However, It is not clear when the cowboy's hat began to be named as such.
Westerners originally had no standard headwear. People moving west wore many styles of hat, including top hats, derbies, remains of Civil War headgear, sailor hats and everything else.
Contrary to popular belief, it was the bowler (Derby) and not the cowboy hat that was the most popular in the American West, prompting Lucius Beebe to call it "the hat that won the West.
The working cowboy wore wide-brimmed, high-crowned hats long before the invention of the modern design. However, credit for "invention" of the cowboy hat as it is known today is generally given to John Batterson Stetson.
The original "Boss of the plains," manufactured by Stetson in 1865, was flat-brimmed, had a straight sided crown, with rounded corners. These light-weight, waterproof hats, were natural in color, with four inch crowns and brims.
A plain hatband was fitted to adjust head size. The sweatband bore Stetson’s name. While only making one style of hat, they came in different qualities ranging from one-grade material at five dollars apiece to pure beaver felt hats for thirty dollars each.
J.B. Stetson was the first to market the "Boss of the plains," to Cowboys, where it has remained the universal image of the American West.
The charisma of the West was carried back East when adventurers returned in the expensive “Boss of the plains!
Please note that some items noted ships direct from Manufacturer are made for you as they are ordered. Please call toll free 866.443.7479 or email sales@killerhats.com for expected completion date.
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