Bucket Hats are a staple piece within the street fashion world, being found anywhere from the festival to the runway to the city streets, but how did it all start?
We've all seen bucket hats before, most of us have probably worn one at one point or another, but before looking at their place in pop culture and fashion, it's worth going back to their invention and initial use, for which we need to head back to the early 1900s.
Most historians credit the Irish with first developing the bucket hat with the purpose of keeping the sun and precipitation away from farmers and fishermen. A more functional than fashionable piece, the bucket hat was perfect for those working outside, with the thick brim being ideal for holding back the wind, rain and sun alike.
Moving into the 1960s, a style of hat similar in appearance to that of a Bucket; named the Boonie, shot into the public view. With the Vietnam War in full swing, militaries sought to protect their troops' heads from the sun, insects and rain whilst fighting in the harsh conditions of Vietnam.
Step forwards the Boonie Hat, introduced primarily in the U.S Army, with troops often being issued them from the mid 1960s. Due to the global spotlight upon the Vietnam War alongside the rapid growth in news coverage due to the meteoric rise of television, the Boonie was thrust into the public sphere, with the conflict playing a large part in the rise in popularity of the Bucket style hat.
Fast forward to the modern day and Bucket Hats have been a staple in the pop culture and streetwear world across the globe and within a variety of subcultures. From the world of U.S hip-hop with artists such as Outkast, to the streets of Madchester with Oasis, the Bucket Hat had become a must have, particularly resonating within the working class (A poignant point, when considering it's original purpose for use by the working class).
Today you'll continue to find the bucket hat in a wide variety of subcultures, particularly being a popular piece for the summer here in the UK, be that at a festival or on the terraces for international football, having been adopted by teams such as Wales with the Red Wall.
Here at The Alternative Store, we celebrate Bucket Hats for their heritage and cultural impact, stocking a wide variety of designs and styles. Made from weather resistant materials to fight back against the notoriously temperamental British Summer Time, we've sold pieces such as our Cord Bucket Hat, North Bucket Hat and Sloth Bucket Hat for over 30 years (we even have Fluffy Buckets for the winter, neat huh?).
You can check them out here on our website or in our store in Central Sheffield!