Before the inventor started making cowboy hats the citizens of the west would wear the hat of their past. Some would wear the hats of their native country while others wore hats that represented their previous work experience. All the way up and down society was represented in the leftovers of a different life. The cowboy hat gave them headgear that represented their current life.
Although the cowboy hat is recognized all over the world, it is the distinctive shape that will identify the region where the hat was made and usually worn. There was a time when the wearer could be recognized as from a certain region by his hat.
First the hat was all about function and when it started to get popular out west it was because they were functional for work and for dressing up too. In the second century since its invention it has become more a cultural symbol and fashion in parallel with the functional purpose.
There is very little difference between hat of today and hats of 1865 when John Stetson first made them in 1865. He sold the first Stetsons for five dollars in the little town of Central City Colorado. Although many know cowboy hats as Stetsons they are in reality referring to a brand and Stetson is not the generic term at all.
Cowboy hats were from an early time associated with a rougher segment of society and although that association is far less grounded today it continues to convey that feeling. The hats themselves seem to make one feel more rugged with its wearing.
Cowboy hats were first made to be protection from the weather conditions like snow, sleet, rain and the sun. Today although the hat can still serve that purpose they have far more to do with fashion that they do with protection in the majority of cases.
The fabric of choice these days is felt as it is far superior in terms of usability as it is more light weight, water resistant, smoother and is far more durable than other materials. Hats come in many colors but the grey, brown and black family dominate the cowboy market with the silver/grey hat being by far the most popular. Even women join this trend toward fashion and come in almost every color.
When hats were first made they were marked with Xs to display the quality. The more Xs on the hat the higher the content of beaver in the hat. Today the Xs have continued in use even though beaver has been discontinued for a long time as a hat making material. There is one flaw in this system. There is no standard so there is no way to compare between brands.
With that you now have a basis for understanding the history of the cowboy hat and how it has evolved today. When you wear one you will understand the symbolism and heritage that you have on your head and can enjoy the projected personal that it contains.
Because the cowboy hat has not really been around that long there was a time in the development of the western US before the cowboy hat arrived. In that time the ranchers and the cowboys of the time wore hats that were really leftovers for past lives. Some symbolized lifestyles and some occupations or countries of birth. With the cowboy hats invention that all changed.
After the cowboy hat was popularized it was known everywhere but there were still enough differences in the styles of the hat to make is a sort of marker for where the wearer may be from or at the least where he got his hat.
You may have heard the phrase function before form and in the case of the cowboy hat it really has both. Initially the hat was all about function but over time it has moved more and more into the fashion arena and toward a socially symbolic icon.
If you were to place a cowboy hat invented in 1985 by John Stetson side by side with a hat of today you would be able to tell very little difference. He sold those first hats in Central City Colorado and even though people often refer to cowboy hats a Stetsons what they are vocalizing is the brand of hat and not just what kind of hat it is.
Even today the cowboy hat projects a feeling of connection with that early lifestyle of rugged independence. Couple the hat with a great pair of boots and some good looking jeans and you have a prescription for personal transformation at least until one changes clothes.
Originally cowboy hats were created to protect the wearer from the elements and weather conditions. In modern times the cowboy hat has transformed from a functional piece of equipment to a fashion statement. Some designers whole jobs involve the design of fashion cowboy hats for the pretend cowboy market.
The fabric that has risen to the top in hat making is felt as it tends to outshine every other in terms of durability and comfort. The smooth texture, light weight and moisture resistant character make it the perfect material for cowboy hats. Mens hats have tended to stay in the traditional colors of brown, grey and black, the most popular of which is grey. While womens lean toward more color variety.
Many of you may have seen Xs on the inside band of a cowboy hat and originally this was to signify the quality of the hat and the comparative content of beaver in it. Today beaver is normally not used to make hats and the Xs have become very subjective as each manufacturer sets their own standards for the marking system. A person is not able to compare between brands just by comparing Xs.
All the all the cowboy hat has endured the test of time and changed with the times to continue to be a staple of our society and truly is an American icon that is sure to stay with us for a long time to come. Enjoy your hat and wear it proudly and know what it stands for and where it came from.
Detro Canaro has sinced written about articles on various topics from Metabolism, Infants And Toddlers and Legal Matters. Copyright Detro Canaro (2008) Detro Canaro is a father, a writer, a proud Bassett Hound lover and a co-owner of several website that support he and his family. One of those websites all about