Crowning GLORY

Here’s a hat tip to the most versatile and decorative of accessories in our wardrobe

BHOPAL, 01/09/2009: Artistes from Assam in lighter mood during the inauguration of four day folk tribal dance and drama festival 'Lok Prasang-2', at Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya in Bhopal on August 01, 2009. Photo: A.M. Faruqui

Every year in the U.S., January 15 is dedicated to one of the most underrated accessories in our wardrobe — the hat. Though an unofficial holiday, it is a good excuse to talk about the most versatile of add-on that holds an important place in many cultures.

Hats came into existence as a necessity to protect oneself from natural elements. Simply put, it is an adornment that covers the head. Over the centuries, many cultures have come up with their own versions of the hat to be worn during ceremonial, religious, or social occasions. In early times, hats were also symbolic of one’s status, rank, and class.

The Asian conical hat, also known as a farmer’s hat is made of straw and secured to the head with a cloth chin strap. Popular in Asian countries spanning Bangladesh and Bhutan to Vietnam, Laos, China and Japan, the purpose of the hat is to shield the farmers from the sun. It is similar to the

jaapi , a large conical hat, typically made of bamboo, cane or palm leaves, popular in Assam and Odisha. It is also worn by dancers of Bihu.

In Mexico, horse riders wore large straw hat called the

sombrero to shield them from the harsh sun. It is differentiated from the hats worn by cowboys with its wider brim and a high, conical crown. Today, these are the hats worn by mariachi musicians and charros — traditional horsemen.

Hats are worn by people in countries with colder climates, too. The ushanka is a Russian fur cap with ear flaps to protect the wearer from the cold.

In Morocco, the

fez, a cylindrical hat made of felt and with a tassel attached to it, is symbolic of its culture. Popularised during the Ottoman era, today the fez is as much a part of the military attire as the traditional costume of the region.

A part of the modern-day formal attire in upper class Europe are the fascinators. More of a light-weight hair accessory, than a full hat, it owes its origin to the heavily decorated hat of the 17th century, which Christian women wore. The decorative headgears are worn with formal attires when attending church services and weddings.

Most tribes in Africa have hats or headgear as a part of their traditional costumes. It denotes one’s tribe and rank. In South Africa, the Zulu hat is woven with grass and is worn by married women during religious or cultural ceremonies. The women of the Maasai tribe in Africa decorate themselves with a hat-like accessories made of beads.