The Rise of the NY Cap
When New Era rolled out its first fitted pro baseball cap in 1954, it wasn’t meant to be a home run.ny cap But that didn’t stop the hat from quickly becoming a major hit both on the field and off. Today, the NY cap is a global fashion icon that transcends MLB fandom and connects us all to one of America’s greatest cities.
In a new episode of SC Featured, we explore how the interlocking “NY” became so ubiquitous—and how it all began.ny cap The episode, called “Beyond the Bronx,” takes a look at how the cap rose to prominence through collaborations with high-fashion brands and has made its way into the hands of rappers, photographers, celebrities, and even athletes. But it wasn’t always so: a quick Google search shows that, just a few decades ago, the Yankees hat was still very much a baseball-only accessory.
But the cap’s rise isn’t just tied to its home team and city; it’s also a testament to our ever-increasing globalism and growing desire for a sense of belonging.ny cap As our world grows increasingly more connected, the desire for a sense of place and identity becomes stronger than ever. And for many of us, a ny cap is a reminder that there’s always room in the world to be yourself and embrace your home base.
The story of the ny cap really begins with New Era—a Buffalo, N.ny cap Y.-based company that has been making caps for the major leagues since 1920. The brand started out as your classic haberdasher, producing a variety of men’s and women’s clothing but eventually shifted its focus to hats. Ehrhardt Koch, the founder of New Era, had a knack for creating custom-made pieces, and the company’s ballcaps started to become synonymous with the game.
By the early ’90s, when Spike Lee made his critically acclaimed film “Do the Right Thing,” it was clear that the cap had taken center stage.ny cap New Era rolled out more colors and styles—including pinks, tonal blacks, and stretchy fitteds—and soon the cap flooded every arena: not just stadiums but music, fashion, and your local mall. The ny cap was culture.
Now, the cap is seen around the globe and worn by everyone from musicians to celebrities to actors to sports stars—and it’s hard to imagine a time when it wasn’t. And while it’s easy to point to a few key factors that have contributed to the cap’s global reach—its ubiquity, its timeless design, and its enduring popularity among fans and non-fans alike—the truth is that the answer is a lot more complex than we may think.
While it’s true that the ny cap has never been more popular than it is now, it isn’t without its problems. As the cap has evolved into a cultural staple, etiquette around wearing it hasn’t kept pace. So whether you’re a die-hard fan or not, here are some tips for rocking your Yankee fitted like the pros:
Tags:army cap