The “Boss of the Plains” hat, was first made by Christy’s hats of Bristol, UK but popularised by John B Stetson in 1865 as an all weather hat to protect from the extreme environment of the American West. Over time the brim became curved from each owner holding and styling the hat and dents were formed in the crown from putting it on and taking it off with the thumb and two forefingers. These alterations were gradually integrated into newer designs and led to the creation of the Cowboy hat.

I made these hats as a reference to the original Boss of the plains hat because I love the modernist design of them and am interested in the idea of a simple utopian form that can be customised and acquire new meanings through people wearing it in different contexts.