The flamboyance and fast times of the 1920's gave way to a much more somber climate in the 1930's. The Stock Market Crash of 1929 ushered in a decade best remembered as a national crisis of unseen magnitude. What today is known as The Great Depression was undoubtedly a period of unparalleled uncertainty, but one that would instill great character and fortitude in the American public. As this major recession set in, fashion evolved likewise, resulting in a more modestly-styled look befitting the national mood. Bollman produced The Trilby which toned down the wide brim and softened the sharp lines of the Fedora. The Trilby or Snap Brim hat became the all purpose dress felt hat, cutting across class strata in America and Europe. To meet the demand, Bollman vertically integrated and began carbonizing and scouring the wool used in felt hats during this decade.
