Iconic. Historic. Classic. There are countless ways to describe the New Era 59FIFTY fitted hat. It’s become “the hat” that’s often associated with sports teams and pop culture. It’s a streetwear staple. It’s a hat with history and plenty of style.
The 59FIFTY was first created in the 1950s with a forward-thinking design. That’s one of the many reasons why 59FIFTY fitted hats became so iconic then and have remained popular well into the 21st century.
It’s also why so many people make 59FIFTY fitted hats the foundation of their hat collection. That flat-brim and tailored design looks so good. Here’s a deep dive into why this design has been such an iconic hat for so long.
Historic Origins
To really understand why the New Era 59FIFTY is such an iconic hat, you have to go back over 100 years to the origins of New Era. The company was founded in 1920 by Ehrhardt Koch as the New Era Cap Co. In the 1920s, they made Gatsby-style caps, sometimes called newsboy caps.
Going into the 1930s, and as baseball was becoming more popular in the US, New Era adapted to changing styles. In 1934, they introduced a new hat made specifically for professional baseball. It featured a curved brim and a team logo.
Jump to the 1950s, and things started to change. Styles were changing. Back in 1934, New Era made hats for just a single team, the Cleveland Indians. In the 1950s, the MLB was approaching 16 teams, and as more teams joined their ranks, it was time for a new hat.
In 1954, Harold Koch, son of New Era’s founder, came up with the design. He wanted a hat that captured the style of the time while having a recognizable silhouette. This was the 59FIFTY.
From Professional Baseball to Everyone
In the 1950s and ’60s, the 59FIFTY grew in popularity among professional baseball teams. New Era had formed a relationship with the MLB. This relationship meant New Era could sell their hats to teams across the league.
At the time, the MLB had multiple hat suppliers. But with every passing season, New Era gained ground. However, while they weren’t yet the exclusive hat supplier of the MLB, the exposure helped them make connections to college teams and other leagues.
From the 1960s and into the ’70s and ’80s, New Era grew and made more connections. They also recognized there was a demand among fans for their league hats. Finally, in the 1980s, New Era opened the floodgates. The 59FIFTY was now available to the public 30 years after it made its debut.
Pro Ball Meets Pop Culture
While the New Era 59FIFTY had a following among sports fans, it wasn’t until the 1990s that there was a shift from pro ball to pop culture. The 59FIFTY had appeared in movies and TV in the ’80s, but in the ’90s, the image of the 59FIFTY really took off.
The silhouette became popular among musicians, artists, filmmakers, and other influencers of the time. New Era even worked with filmmaker Spike Lee—already a fan of the 59FIFTY—to create custom hats for fans.
That collaboration set the foundation for today’s hat culture. Today, you can find 59FIFTY fitted black hats and designs in all kinds of other colors, with every team and city logo you can think of. Plus, you’ve got all kinds of design collaborations to explore as well. Find your size, and the choice is yours!
About Hat Club
Express yourself with Hat Club. This iconic brand has been a leader in the headwear industry for over 30 years. They’ve always been on top of the latest hat trends and have even helped set a few trends along the way. Among their selection, you can find everything from fitted hats in alternate colorways to A frame hats that check every style box. Whether you’re looking for the latest fitted MLB hats to show support for your favorite team or you’re a collector anticipating the next exclusive drop, Hat Club has designs you’ll love. Plus, they have over 1 million followers across their socials with new fans joining every day. No matter where you keep up with them, Hat Club’s latest releases and upcoming drops help keep your style fresh every time.
Find your own 59FIFTY fitted hat at https://www.hatclub.com/
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