Fiddler Caps

Fiddler Caps

Similar to more ornate Greek Fisherman Caps, Fiddler Caps feature the same design - soft crown, structured band, small curved bill/visor - but are minimally trimmed, often only a hat band anchored between two side buttons. Their workwear and nautical origins, however, are one and the same. 

First introduced as cheap and practical workwear for sailors and factory workers in early 19th century Europe, these caps were most popular in Russia, especially within the Jewish community. (This last association was on display in the famous 1971 musical, Fiddler on the Roof, wherein the Jewish protagonist, Tevye, wears the style throughout - thereby popularizing the more recent term, "Fiddler Cap.") By the late 1800s, the style had disseminated across Central and Northern Europe and reached Greece, where they were widely embraced and still comprise part of men's everyday wear today (hence its other moniker, "Greek Fisherman Cap").  

It wasn't until the 20th century that Fiddler and Greek Fisherman Caps underwent the popular cultural resurgence for which they are known today. Their use by Marlon Brando in the 1953 film The Wild One, The Beatles and Bob Dylan in the 1960s, and the 1970s Black Power movement all contributed to the style's association with the counterculture movement. More recently, these caps have regained popularity with youth culture thanks to growing nostalgia for 1970s and 1990s fashion.

Browse our impressive collection of Fiddler Caps and Greek Fisherman Caps today! Village Hat Shop proudly carries a variety of materials and brands - including popular Brixton Hats and Kangol. Shop today!

Note: As this style traveled across cultures, many iterations and alternate names sprung forth. In Russia, a similar style was called Kasket or "Hamburg Cap." In Germany and Norther Europe, you may hear of similar versions referred to as Elbsegler ("Elbe Sailor"), Altstädter ("Old Timer"), Fleetenkieker, Helgoländer Lotsenmütze ("Heligoland Pilot's Cap"), and "Schmidt Cap" to name a few.

For more on Fiddler & Greek Fisherman Caps, read our Iconic Hats blog article, The Greek Fisherman/Fiddler Cap!

See Also: Greek Fisherman Caps, Cadet Caps