Recently, we have witnessed the growing popularity of cowboy hats on runways and in editorial magazines, infiltrating spaces in pop culture that were once unimaginable. As a Mexican, it brings me great joy to see more and more people embracing this classic and irreplaceable hat in my country. However, it is important to emphasize that for us Mexican people, it is not only a passing fashion trend because the cowboy hat is such an important part of our culture and national identity present in our art, music and daily life.
Cowboy hats can be crafted from various materials such as straw, paper canvas, palm, wool, felt, and others. Originally, straw and felt were the preferred choices among Mexicans from the very beginning.
History of the Cowboy Hat
The cowboy hat, as we know it today, evolved from the original vaqueros or Mexican cowboys, who donned wide-brimmed and high-crowned hats while tending to cattle. A lot of people think that they come from Texas but it is important to remember that until 1848, California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, and a part of Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma were part of Mexico.
The design of the cowboy hat aimed to protect cattle ranchers and farmers who toiled under the scorching sun or herded their animals in high temperatures throughout the day.
The history of the cowboy hat traces back to the arrival of the Spanish in Mexican territory, formerly known as New Spain. During the colonial era, Spanish soldiers sported a wide-brimmed and flat-crowned hat called the cordobés as part of their uniform. This served as inspiration to create a cowboy hat that would evolve and adapt to the climate and needs of its wearers. The war with the USA and the loss of territory eventually distinguished Mexican cattle ranchers from what is now known as American cowboys. Notably, Mexico stands as one of the leading exporters of cowboy hats worldwide.
