Stetson

John Batterson Stetson was born in Orange, New Jersey. In his younger years he worked with his father, Stephen Stetson, a hatter. John was diagnosed with Tuberculosis and was given a short time to live . With this prognosis he left the hat making business and decided to follow his dreams and explore the Western United States. He ended up in Colorado to visit Pike’s Peak at which time he designed the Boss of the Plains hat. This hat remained extremely popular for the next twenty years.

In 1865 he moved to Philadelphia and began manufacturing hats. From their his brand Stetson has become synonymous with the Cowboy Hat.

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The following are a few Stetson styles which I find exceptionally pleasing:

Shasta: This rugged hat was named after Mount Shasta which is in the Shasta – Trinity National Forest in Northern, California. This beaver fur felt hat is soft and resilient and features a classic cattleman crown.

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Open Road Royal Deluxe: Introduced in 1937, the Open Road was originally sold with an open crown, which could then be creased to the customer’s liking. Since 1948, it has been finished with a traditional, hand-pressed cattleman crease, and has been worn by modern pioneers and trailblazers ever since, from artists and outlaws to Presidents (including, most notably, LBJ, who was rarely photographed on his Texas ranch without his Open Road). (Stetson.com)

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The Skyline: The Skyline is Stetson’s most popular hat. Because of its popularity the name Skyline has been trademarked by Stetson.

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But that’s not all… Stetson also produces other hat styles. My favorite is their line of fedoras. The Pure Stratoliner is one of Stetson’s most attractive hats… and one of their most expensive.

The Stratoliner has an interesting history. In the early 1940s TWA launched the first premium passenger jets. Known as the Stratoliner, these planes revolutionized travel. Stetson launched the Stratoliner as a travel-friendly gentlemen’s hat with a classic style, wider brim than the popular urban fedora, and a shorter crown that made it a practical choice for jetsetters. Ready for the range, road, or urban jungle, this is a hat for the man or woman on the move. (stetson.com)

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Stetson is not only hats. They also have boots, clothes, colognes, jewelry, gloves, etc. I am drawn to the boots. Back in the 1980s I was a big fan of cowboy boots and owned several pairs. One of my favorites from their current lineup is the Flaxville Honey Alligator Vamp Blue 13” Shaft. This bi-colored handmade boot is as stylish as it’s comfortable. This boot is built to last.

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Before we go, I want to talk a little about Stetson hats. Stetson is one of the most expensive cowboy hats on the market. Each hat is handmade individually in a detailed two-day process. They turn fur (beaver or chinchilla) into felt at their factories and are one of the only few companies in the United States that make hat bodies from scratch. (horseyhooves.com)

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For the last 160 years, Stetson has consistently grown its reputation and maintained a top-tier position in the industry by delivering high-quality products. I will always be a fan of the Stetson brand.

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The hat I am wearing in this photo is what inspired me to write this piece. It is not a Stetson. It's a Resistol which is almost as popular as Stetson.

With Love, RHC