Bowler / Derby
Stiffened Beaver Felt
Commissioned to protect gamekeepers heads from overhead branches, the Bowler was originally designed and created by the London hatmakers Thomas and William Bowler in 1849. The short stout sometimes slightly bulbous shape of the crown of this hat is often called a Derby. Its evolution over the years had it evolving to look more conical and standing upright ever so slightly taller. This newer version, now is often referrd to as the bowler, though it depends on the country your bowler is from. All generations of this hat feature a curled and often bound brim, and a crown hard enough to knock on. Knock Knock. Who's there? Derby. Derby who? Derby bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover.
Introduced by British railways workers it is common for Aymara women to wear the Bowler. Here they call it bombin and they are made locally by Bolivians.