As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, Stetson is looking back on a creation that started with a simple goal: keep the weather off a pioneer’s face. In 1865, John B. Stetson designed the “Boss of the Plains” in Colorado and sold the first one for five dollars. The hat caught on fast, and by 1888 Stetson was the largest hat manufacturer in the world. When the Philadelphia factory closed in 1970, production shifted to Garland, Texas, where HatCo still makes Stetson hats today.
Over 161 years, the cowboy hat has been worn by ranchers, law enforcement, rodeo riders, celebrities, and several U.S. presidents. It has become shorthand for a certain rugged, independent American spirit, the kind the company’s leadership ties directly to westward expansion. That longevity is rare in fashion, where trends usually burn out in a season.
What is striking is that the hat is having a moment again. During the pandemic, as people spent more time outdoors, cowboy hat orders surged and the “cowboy cool” look took over. So on the Suncoast, where western wear still shows up at rodeos and county fairs, the Stetson remains more than a costume piece. It is a working hat with a 161-year track record. Do you own one, and if so, where do you wear it?
