The first hat of the industrial age, the bowler was designed in 1850 by the Bowler family of Southwark specifically for a customer of England's pre-eminent hatmaker, Lock's of St. James's. William Coke needed a practical, simple, rigid, durable hat to protect his gamekeeper's head; a hat that would stand up to the most demanding of conditions, including riding in pursuit of poachers. Coke tested the hat's prototype by standing on its crown in Lock's showroom. Twice. It passed the test. (Caution: Those were different times - don't try this at home.) The bowler was quickly adopted as sporting attire by the gentry and, soon after, became the headgear of choice across the entire social spectrum. It was particularly popular in the late 19th century with the crowd at the Derby horse race at Epsom Downs. Americans took to calling the hat the "derby". The hat of bankers, workers and clowns, the bowler is one of the most popular and successful hats ever produced, and the finest bowlers are still manufactured in England. Christys' bowlers are handmade furfelt hats. The hat features a satin lining, leather sweatband and 11 ligned grosgrain trim. It comes with it's own Christys' of London hatbox for easy storage.
