What is a Stetson Hat?
A Stetson hat is a special type of cowboy hat manufactured by the Stetson Hat Company, today based in the American state of Texas. The distinctive design of the Stetson hat has become so iconic that many people use the term generically to refer to any sort of cowboy hat, although the Stetson company works hard to protect its trademark. Most hat stores, especially stores which offer Western-style hats, carry Stetsons, and they can also be ordered directly from the company. This hat is named for John Batterson Stetson, a hat manufacturer who lived from 1830-1906. In 1869, Stetson founded a hat company in Philadelphia which started producing the distinctive high-crowned, wide-brimmed felts hats, and also revolutionized the hat making industry, becoming one of the first hat companies to mechanize.
