Cowboy Hats

The cowboy hat is a wide-brimmed hat traditionally worn by ranch workers throughout North America. It has, however, become a cultural icon worn as a fashion or lifestyle statement all over the world.

Although the cowboy hat is an icon of the American West--thanks in large part to the nostalgic themes of mid-20th century TV shows--it is neither a purely American invention, nor is it a strictly American icon. The style comes from the vaqueros (cowboys) of Northern Mexico, courtesy of the Spanish, and is possibly even traceable to back to Mongol horsemen. The most famous cowboy hat design, however, was the innovation of an American, John B. Stetson. Stetson began selling his design in 1865, and was producing around four million per year by the turn of the century. The hat is also iconic to Canadians, being a trademark of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (or "Mounties"), and an insignia on the flag of the city of Calgary.