Nigro’s is restocked with a large selection of fall and winter felts from Stetson and Resistol.
As sure as summer turns to fall, straw cowboy hats are shelved in favor of cool-weather felts. For decades, straw hats have been the popular choice of western wear enthusiasts for summer – and for good reason. Historically, working cowboys needed protection from the summer sun’s blazing hot rays and, straw hats protected the cowboy’s face and eyes while allowing the wearer to stay a little cooler thanks to the straw hat’s lighter weight and airy, breathable design.
While straws continue to be worn well into fall (especially in more temperate regions of the country), at some point most straw cowboy hats are boxed and the more seasonal felt hat appears. Heavier, warmer, and resistant to rain and snow, the felt cowboy hat is nearly the exact opposite of its straw-constructed brother. While the straw cowboy hat’s lightness in weight and color projects a certain summer casualness, the darker and heavier construction of the felt cowboy hat projects durability and readiness for the harsher weather of fall and winter – along with an unmistakably dressier look. A look that depicts both hard work and fashionable formality.
At its most basic, the felt cowboy hat is a matting of fur, wool, or hair into a pliable form molded into various shapes and sizes. Two of the most storied and popular manufacturers of cowboy hats are Resistol and Stetson, and Nigro’s has a wide selection of both – pre-shaped and ready to ship – that are sure to satisfy modern day cowboys and western wear fans alike as they step out into the crisp fall air – or the frigid weather of winter that follows.
Resistol
No surprise, the brand name “Resistol “was inspired by the phrase “resists all weather.”
Country star George Strait in a trademark Resistol felt hat.
In the 1920s, a young hat maker named Harry Rolnick, known for his flair for fashion and commitment to quality, was backed by a wealthy customer, E.R. Byer in expanding his hat business. Together, the two founded the Byer-Rolnick Hat Company in Dallas, Texas. They designed and manufactured men’s felt hats in Western styles, as well as other fashionable hats of the day.
Remember, the early 1900’s was a time when men and women both wore hats almost daily. Throughout the heyday of the fedora, film stars like Humphrey Bogart and William Powell appeared in ads for Resistol hats. Today, country star George Strait is the company’s official spokesperson.
In 1938, the company expanded, building a large facility in Garland, Texas. They eventually added fur-cutting and rough-body plants, which allowed them to control every stage of felt hat making—over 200 processes in all! Resistol hats are still manufactured in Garland to this day.
Stetson
George Armstrong Custer was an aficionado of Stetson hats, and legend has it that he wore his last at the battle of the new Big Horn.
John B. Stetson founded his namesake company in 1865, producing a hat style he called the “Boss of the Plains,” a style which is still in production today. Stetson eventually became the largest hat maker in the world, producing more than 3 million hats a year.
Like his competitor, Stetson also produced hats in a wide-variety of fashions and styles, but the cowboy hat is Stetson’s enduring legacy. Celebrity customers of the day included Buffalo Bill, Will Rogers, and Annie Oakley. Legend has it that George Custer wore a Stetson at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Founded in Philadelphia, Stetson continues to produce approximately half a million hats a year at their manufacturing facility in Texas.
Nigro’s has your felt hat needs covered.
With several newly arrived shipments of Resistol and Stetson styles at Nigro’s, customers are bound to find just the right style, material and color they desire. And, since many of these styles are pre-shaped, these great hats can be easily purchased online and ready to wear right out of the box. But hurry, popular sizes, styles and colors go fast. Shop now to guarantee your favorites are delivered prior to the arrival of fall’s cooler temperatures.
Planning to be in Kansas City? Then why not pay a visit to Nigro’s Western Store #1 and shop the collection in person? You’ll receive an unmatched level of customer service. And. L.D. Nigro can custom shape your new hat purchase just the way you like it.
Online or in person, when it comes to Stetson and Resistol, Nigro’s Western Store #1 is your felt cowboy hat headquarters.
