What is a Bowler Hat?
A bowler hat is made of hard felt and characterized by a rounded crown and a slightly upturned brim. It is typically worn by men and often associated with England, where it originated. The hat was created in 1850, designed specifically for Thomas Coke, 2nd Earl of Leicester. The bowler hat gets its name from the first hatmakers to produce it, Thomas and William Bowler, though they worked from the designs of hatters James and George Lock. Originally called the iron hat, the bowler was hard to protect the head of a horseback rider from tree branches – perfect for game warden Thomas Coke. As an intermediate between the aristocratic top hat and the soft hats worn by men of the lower middle class, the bowler hat acted as somewhat of a social leveler and steadily gained in popularity throughout the 19th century.
