Stetson Hat History

Stetson Hat - its history

Stetson hats and John B. Stetson Company are American icons. No American hat brand name is more recognized around the world than Stetson.

Founded in 1865, John B. Stetson's biography is like a Horatio Alger tale. Although most associate a Stetson hat with a western felt or cowboy style, Stetson actually makes hats and caps in a wide variety of styles and fabrics. John B. Stetson was born on May 5th in East Orange, New Jersey in 1830. His father, Stephen Stetson was a hatter who ran the No Name Hat Company.
The company was known for their high-quality hats and John B. learned the trade from a very young age. It is said that the No Name Company made hats for George Washington.

In the 1860s, like many Americans, John B. headed west to recover from tuberculosis, which he had developed when he was young. He decided to try his luck at Pike's Peak to seek fortune in gold.
In the desert, John used primitive felting techniques to create waterproof blankets and his first hat to protect himself from the elements.
This original model is the "BOSS OF THE PLAINS 1870"; a hat that had a high crown and long flat brim to protect from the weather. Stetson didn't find fortune as a gold miner and thus headed East to start a hat manufacturing business. With only 60 dollars borrowed from his older sister Louise, he bought tools and fur, rented a small room in Philadelphia and hired two workers.

This direction worked out quite well for him as by the early 20th century, Stetson owned the largest hat factory in the world.

For more information about Stetson, take a look at our Stetson hat collection