A bucket hat (variations of which include the fisherman’s hat, Irish country hat and session hat) is a hat with a wide, downward-sloping brim. Typically, the hat is made from heavy-duty cotton fabric such as denim or canvas, or heavy wool such as tweed, sometimes with metal eyelets placed on the crown of the hat for ventilation.
It was first adopted as a high fashion item in the 1960s, and with subsequent revivals in both street fashion and on the catwalk. It is popular festival gear in the present day, also known as a “session hat” and is favored by fans of bands such as Sticky Fingers, The Stone Roses, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Oasis and Yung Lean, Courteeners
The bucket hat or fishing hat is said to have been introduced around 1900. Originally made from wool felt or tweed cloth, these hats were traditionally worn by Irish farmers and fishermen as protection from the rain, because the lanolin from the unwashed (raw) wool made these hats naturally waterproof.
From the interwar years onwards, these “Irish walking hats” were quickly adopted internationally for country pursuits because, when folded, they could fit inside a coat pocket. If the scottish hat fell in the mud, it could be easily cleaned with a damp sponge, and it could be reshaped using steam from a kettle. In the 1960s, it was often worn by members of the Mod subculture.
The modern bucket hat is derived from a tropical hat made from olive drab cotton that was issued to the US Army during the Vietnam War. These lightweight hats became popular among civilians for use in sports such as fishing, and as sun protection.