Do you know the history of trucker hats and where they come from? How did they become so popular?
Trucker hats have been a part of American culture for ages. They are one of the most iconic pieces of America.
From the local grocery to the big store, you must have seen these hats everywhere.
In this article, we will shed light on the background of trucker hats and why they are fashion accessories for teenagers these days.
Stay tuned!
History of Trucker Hats
While trucker hats have been popular among celebrities and millennials for years, they did not start as a trendy accessory. In fact, these hats had quite a humble beginning.
Trucker hats came into existence in the 1960s for farmers and other workers who worked outdoors.
They were given out as promotional gift items by the companies and were a practical solution for the workers to keep the harmful rays of the sun out of their eyes.
The reason that the companies used these hats as promotional gift items was that they were extremely cheap to manufacture. Thus, they used hats as an inexpensive advertising item.
However, embroidered trucker hats were not much popular back then as the machines were quite crude and expensive.
Due to the practicality, trucker hats quickly became popular among outdoor workers such as landscapers and construction workers to avoid the sun.
In the early 1970s, trucker hats were adopted by truck drivers as their own. That’s how they got the name ‘trucker.’
The original design of these hats was extremely simple. It featured an A-foam front along with a mesh back for ventilation purposes.
Additionally, the headgear was adjustable thanks to the snap closure present at the back. As a result, it could easily fit workers of all head shapes and sizes.
While the original material was foam rubber, it has now changed to materials of better quality like cotton, polyester, etc.
The Evolution of Trucker Hats
According to some people, the surfacing of television shows and televised sports played an important role in the popularity of trucker hats.
For instance, many subcultures like skateboarding and other adventure sports started adopting these hats.
Due to the shows and sports broadcasting in the 1960s and 1970s, these hats became acceptable in everyday life.
For example, the actor Tom Sellek regularly wore a Detroit Tigers trucker cap in his television series, ‘Magnum, P.I’.
Thus, with evolution, these hats evolved from the uniform of American truckers to a crucial designer emblem.
In the year 1970, celebrities such as Farrah Fawcett and Jane Fonda often used to wear them.
Not only this, but trucker hats also started featuring in the movies such as ‘Convoy’ and ‘Smokey and the Bandit.’
In the 1980s, from preppies to punks, everyone was seen wearing these hats and they became a fashion statement.
By the 2000s, inspired by celebrities, people of all ages and backgrounds started wearing trucker hats.
Originally, the only available method to decorate trucker hats was screen printing. It was done on a foam front before sewing the pieces into a finished hat.
However, today, embroidered trucker hats have taken the place of screen-printed hats. That’s because you can easily embroider the fully-assembled hats.
Seeing the trend, many screen printing machines are now available with special hoops as well.
They are a lot similar to embroidery machines and you can use them to print any design on full-assembled trucker hats.
The Reasons behind the Popularity of Trucker Hats
Several reasons contribute to the popularity of trucker hats. To start with, these hats are incredibly versatile and you can wear them with any pair of clothing.
You can style the trucker hats any way and you will look good. For instance, if you are a hip-hop artist or belong to a skater community, you can style the hat in a front-facing look.
However, if you are a youngster at the beginning of your fashion journey, you can even wear the hat backward and you will nonetheless look good.
They also offer a retro feel which a lot of people find attractive and appealing. Whether you wear a baseball trucker hat, a dad trucker hat, or a snapback trucker hat, you will be in style.
Lastly, trucker hats are incredibly affordable than most of the hats out there. This is what makes them an excellent choice for people on a budget.
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We are a young fashion brand that advocates freedom, self-pursuit, a positive attitude, and uniqueness.
Our style varies from other brands and we aim to help those who have the passion to customize and design different types of hats.
Take Away
Trucker hats started as promotional gift items for farmers and truck drivers to avoid the sun.
However, they soon gained popularity among the sportsperson, skater community, and actors. They are now one of the most fashionable headwear accessories out there.
So, if you also want to keep up with the fashion world, you should also get your hands on trucker hats.