Whether in the schoolyard, on the street, in a stadium or a gym, you've probably seen them everywhere without necessarily knowing the brand or its products. This is precisely the strength of this American brand, New Era. A brand that speaks to everyone and that everyone agrees on.

The brand's history

THE COMPANY

New Era has been a family business since 1920, spanning four generations. Its founder is Ehrhardt Koch, who pioneered it in the late 19th century with the goal of revolutionizing the hat industry.

The beginnings

After working for the John Miller Cap Company for 18 years, the German immigrant Ehrhardt Koch seized an opportunity to apply his skills by moving up to the next level. In 1920, his dream became a reality: he borrowed $1,000 to launch E. Koch Cap Co. Under its new name, New Era Cap Co., Ehrhardt's company began producing more than 60,000 caps per year.

The baseball cap 

It was Ehrhardt's only son, Harold, who noticed that the demand for trendy caps was decreasing, unlike the professional baseball cap which was becoming increasingly popular. Thus, in 1934, the first professional New Era cap was produced for the Cleveland Indians team.

By 1950, New Era was the only independent cap manufacturer supplying the major baseball teams. Its prestigious client list included the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, and Detroit Tigers. Despite the death of its visionary founder in 1953, the New Era brand has always maintained its passion, integrity, and originality, characteristic of today's generation and its values. In 1954, Harold completely redesigned the brand's fitted cap to give it a more contemporary look. Thus, the 59FIFTY cap was born.

The consecration

In 1961, the company was invited, for the first time, to participate in the winter baseball meetings. New Era had a historic chance to sell its caps directly to all major and minor league teams.

 By 1974, 20 out of the 24 professional teams in Major League Baseball had signed a contract with New Era. 

THE 80s-90s

Led by the vision of David Koch, Harold's son, the 1980s marked a decade of steady growth for the company. In addition to caps for college sports and AAA and international baseball leagues, new headwear for tennis and golf was added. Special orders were also placed during this period, notably for the military. In 1986, New Era's official 59FIFTY cap was added to the Diamond Collection.

The early 1990s saw New Era sign a major contract that shaped and secured the company's future. New Era then became the exclusive cap supplier for Major League Baseball. In 1996, New Era gained its first recognition outside the sports world. The company received a special order from famous filmmaker Spike Lee for a customized red New York Yankees cap. This marked the beginning of a lasting relationship with the director, who subsequently directed New Era's first commercial in 1997.

The brand's expansion

The company's globalization efforts continued with the opening of offices in Europe, Japan, and Australia within two years. 

After a ten-year absence, the National Football League and New Era collaborated again in a period of change that saw New Era secure exclusive rights as the official cap supplier for the NFL. Since then, New Era has reinforced its reputation for quality and style by putting the classic and uniform style on the sidelines. Riding on the success of the NFL announcement, New Era released the most technologically advanced baseball cap ever designed, known as the Diamond Era cap. Composed of multiple technologies, it quickly became popular among players and can now be seen during training sessions and certain games.

The different models 

The 59FIFTY cap – The fitted cap

The 59FIFTY is the brand's most famous cap. It's a fitted cap with a flat visor. It's perfect for a very casual and streetwear style. 

The 9FIFTY Snapback cap

The 9FIFTY cap is a Snapback closure cap. It features the same structured crown and flat visor as the 59FIFTY, but the Snapback closure sets it apart. Since the 9FIFTY cap has an adjustable closure, it's only available in one or two sizes and fits most head sizes. As this cap is adjustable, it's generally the perfect gift and is also ideal for a growing child. You don't have to change caps every year; you can simply adjust the size as needed.

The 39THIRTY cap – The stretch-fit cap

The 39THIRTY cap is one of the first caps with a different structure from the 59FIFTY. This cap also features a structured crown, but its visor is curved and it has a stretch inner headband, thus fitting most sizes.

The adjustable 9FORTY cap

The 9FORTY cap is a blend between the 39THIRTY and the 9FIFTY. This cap features the curved visor of the 39THIRTY and the adjustable closure of the 9FIFTY. The 9FORTY cap generally includes a velcro or strap closure, which differs from the snapback closure of the 9FIFTY. The 9FORTY cap also includes a structured crown for better support.

The adjustable 9TWENTY cap

Like the 9FORTY, the 9TWENTY features a curved visor and an adjustable closure at the back. But it's also a soft cap that you can easily put in your pocket or bag.

A supporter's cap

New Era brand caps are primarily accessories worn to support one's favorite sports teams, such as American baseball teams. The American brand is the only one to distribute and produce Major League Baseball caps. Thus, you'll be able to wear numerous caps in different shapes and colors depending on your favorite team! 

To ensure you're getting a genuine New Era cap and not a counterfeit, check that the brand's sticker is inside the cap as shown below. We also advise you not to remove it, as it proves its authenticity and is an integral part of its manufacturing. And for collectors, it's also proof of style and character. 

A stylish cap 

The New Era cap is essentially a baseball-style cap that one wears to support their baseball team. However, increasingly, people are buying these models for their aesthetic appeal without necessarily knowing the name of the team featured on them. The purists might cry scandal, but we'll just note that the essential thing is that it pleases everyone. 

These baseball caps are perfect for a casual and trendy look. Whether for men or women, they are worn for sports, walking, or going to town. These shapes are increasingly seen on fashion-forward individuals. 

Are you also going to fall for these models?!