The wide-brimmed hat made of straw is considered the oldest kind of hat. People are seen wearing this type to shield themselves from the harmful rays of the sun. It is believed that the straw hat probably started as soon as people learned how to grow grain in agricultural land areas. Replacing a lost or damaged straw hat is easy since weaving, braiding, or sewing straw to form the hat is quite easy to do.

In the earlier times, hats have been worn for protection. It didn't take long for people to use it as accessory or as a symbol. An example of a hat used as a symbol is the Phrygian cap of ancient Greece and Rome. Many slaves who were granted their freedom used this cap as a symbol. Royalties and monarchs, of course, use the crown to symbolize their position in the land. There are also some hats that identify priests and clergymen.

In the past, hats were made from stiffened fabric, leather, or straw. These days hats can also be made from plastic and unnatural materials. The hat shapes and sizes also varied what with the emergence of tricorn hats that have elaborate shapes. Top hats and other forms of headwear also began to come out. Hat manufacturing has never stopped evolving.

During the Medieval times, women wore hats to cover their ears as a symbol of modesty. The hats that popped during the 15th century made it through the 16th century and evolved again to become the structured hats for women. As time went by, the purpose of the hat slowly shifted from its original function to ornamental. It was during this period when people discovered that they can weave straw into hats and that meant extra income for them. The milliners during that time became the merchants who got involved in straw importation. This period served as the catalyst for the fast progress of women's hat fashions.

There is one hat called the bonnet. This was a type of hat that became very popular during the 19th century. In 1850, the bonnet became a favorite among older women and the other hat styles started to gain a following. The tiny hats style came out during the latter part of the 19th century. This period, specifically in the 1890's, saw several milestones such as when the women sportswear entered mainstream fashion. There were hats during the Edwardian era that were really huge and they sometimes had details like flowers or birds.

When World War I ended in the 1920s, a hat named cloche became a hit since it complemented the bob cut which became very popular too at that time. The cloche is like a small helmet and it hugs the heads snuggly. Millinery grew and grew until the earlier stage of the 20th century but when the ready-to-wear fashion hats came, the market for customized hats slowed down. People started to wear hats less and less since women began to use hats only for special occasions and during dress-to-impress moments. The 21st century could be good for the hat market since this period is seen to be more flexible in fashion taste and style. People can just dare to express themselves with hats if they can.