The History of the Cowboy Hat
The cowboy hat is arguably one of the most recognizable pieces of clothing on the planet. Over the years, the styles, materials, and look of the cowboy hat has evolved to what we know as the modern cowboy hat today. For instance, a hat you see in an old western movie is most likely going to look a lot different than what you see at a rodeo today. Although this is the case, the same values, traditions, and craftmanship stand behind the cowboy hat today as they did one hundred years ago.
It is up for debate who really made the first cowboy hat. Whoever it was, they had a need, and that need was to have quality protection from the sun, rain, and anything else mother nature decided to throw at them. The bare nature of wearing one brings a sense of pride and tradition that millions of people before them have experienced when wearing distinguishable hats. Throughout the years the cowboy hat has met the needs of whoever wears it, whether it is a cowboy working cattle in the deserts of the Southwest or even past presidents.
Even now, as the cowboy hat is more than just a tool to protect yourself from the blazing sun and pounding rain, the traditional aspect of owning and wearing one are still the same. Even today, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), requires every cowboy and cowgirl in the arena to wear a cowboy hat. Aside from this, the cowboy hat through the decades has become a staple for the fashion industry. With cowboy hats being a huge part of cinema, such as the tall crowns and short brims in movies such as “Urban Cowboy”, and “Junior Bonner”, to the modern take on the classic western such as “Yellowstone”, cowboy hats are engraved in our culture and continue to be a timeless masterpiece for everyone who wears one.
