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If everyone hates trucker hats so much, then why are they so popular? Originally produced as cheap giveaways at rural feed stores in the late 1970s and early 1980s, these polyester, mesh, and foam domes were famously made famous beyond the...
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If everyone hates trucker hats so much, then why are they so popular? Originally produced as cheap giveaways at rural feed stores in the late 1970s and early 1980s, these polyester, mesh, and foam domes were famously made famous beyond the borders of red-state America by actor Ashton Kutcher, who wore them to flaunt his disregard for the conventions of fashion, or, at least, that was his schtick. In his public display of personal rebranding, Kutcher wore the hats because they were ugly, ridiculous, and even stupid—somehow, those negatives made Kutcher cool. For his millinerial buffoonery, the actor was showered with attention, while the trucker hat was quickly elevated from ironic sight gag to a legitimate fashion accessory, photo-bombing the Twitter feeds and Instagram posts of everyone from pop stars whose first names are Justin to celebrities whose last names are Kardashian or Jenner. So what is a trucker hat, and where did it come from? As you might expect, the hat evolved from baseball caps, which have been around since the 19th century. Unlike baseball caps, though, which are fitted and made of wool or polyester blends, trucker hats have a plastic snap in the back, making their size adjustable and the hats themselves inexpensive to manufacture. Like baseball caps, the crowns of trucker hats are constructed from six triangular sections, but the four panels in the back of the hats are made of a breathable mesh while the two in the front are sponge-like foam—that combination of airflow and moisture absorption is why the hats became so popular with sweaty truckers. As a somewhat structural material, the foam caused the front of trucker hats to stand up almost at right angles to their bills, creating cephalic billboards for logos, advertising, and all sorts of slogans, be they humorous or jingoistic. Which is to say that trucker hats, which were also known as “feed” or “gimme” caps when they were first passed out for free to farmers and ranchers,...
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