Parts of a Stetson Hat
John B. Stetson once sold the hat off his head to a Colorado mule driver for a $5 gold piece, according to the True Cowboy website. Several years later in 1865, Stetson was back home in Philadelphia, starting a hat manufacturing business that would soon grow into one of the world's largest. Today, Stetson hats still bears the same practical features that John B. Stetson used during his unsuccessful stint as a Colorado miner. Does this Spark an idea?
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Experience Leads To Design
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In 1859, on the advice of doctors, John B. Stetson went west. The 24-year old man had tuberculosis, and life in the arid west was thought to help improve your health. While panning for gold in the Colorado Rockies, the adventurer from the East used his previous knowledge of making felt from animal fur to build a beaver felt tent that was both warm and dry. John B. Stetson went on to create a practical wide-brimmed hat that is still enjoyed by many outdoor enthusiasts and stylish dressers.
Brim
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The wide brim of the Stetson, illustrates how this icon of the Old West was really based on practical considerations. The broad, felt rim was indispensable in protecting the wearer from the intense sun and rain of the mountain West. And it was wide enough to allow the water to flow away from the neck and face. Yet for those who now buy the Stetson for stylish reasons, the brim can be formed into a variety of different shapes and styles.
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Crown
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The over-sized crown of the Stetson also has several functional advantages. First of all, the big crown creates an air space above the head. During hot weather this empty pocket acts as insulation from direct radiation created by the sun. In winter, the overhead space traps body heat and keeps the head a little bit warmer. Then, there is the waterproof interior surface, a practical Western design, which allows the hat to be used as a vessel for carrying water or other potable liquids.
Accessories
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The original "Boss of the Plains" was first sold by Stetson when he returned to Philadelphia, and it continued to be popular through much of the 19th century. This hat also featured a sweatband, a lining, a decorative band and bow at the base of the crown. The band and the bow were decorative features, but the bow had the practical feature of identifying the right side of the hat from the left, so the owner always wore the hat in the same way. Today Stetson hats come in a variety of colors and styles, often supporting different decorative items around the base of the crown.
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