Mostly tradition. They serve no purpose today other than being used for ceremonial dress. They were however used in the 1800s as a practical piece of head protection as they protected the wearer from lance and saber blows from cavelry. The British Army didn't officially start using full bearskin hats until after the Napoleonic War. The hats were looted off dead French Imperial Guardsmen and kept as trophies. The British Army started outfitting only their elite troops with bearskin hats because taller hats made troops look taller and more intimidating on the battlefield. Today the hats are only used as a ceremonial headpiece for the Household Guards.
Soldiers in the army wear hats primarily for protection from environmental elements such as sun, rain, and cold weather. Hats also serve a practical purpose by helping to maintain uniformity and discipline within the ranks. Additionally, they often carry insignia or symbols that signify rank, unit, and branch of service, fostering a sense of identity and camaraderie among soldiers.
By the decade's end, hats made from manmade material (such as nylon) displaced straw hats as they proved lighter in weight and came with more ventilation and durability.
Officers in the army, meaning the cap badges worn by them were made of Brass. Decorative Peaked caps (Worn by Major & above) were referred to as having 'scrambled egg' on them. Regimental Shoulder & Collar titles were also made of brass.
The communist group (Bolsheviks) made up the Red Army; the Non-communist group (the Tsar's men) made up the White Army.
The soldiers who stand guard outside Buckingham Palace are all members of various regiments of the British Army and the hats that they wear will depend on the regiment that they belong to. If you are thinking about the tall black hats that some of them wear, they are often incorrectly called 'busbys' but should properly be called bearskins. They were originally made of bear's skins but are now made from a synthetic material.
Generally, wool hats are made of wool.
Jew Hats
They made hats. Hats were worn by men and women in the 1700's. It was considered improper to go out without a hat. The hattter made men's hats and they were made of cotton, wool, beaver skins, and straw.
Did you know that most colonial hats were made from beaver skin? They also made hats from wool, cotton, and straw.
Actually they're not, Panama hats are made in Ecuador.
General or contemporary Army baseball hats as well as collector's and special editions can be found online at generalized stockists such as vendors or through online auction sites such as eBay.
Authentic panama hats are made in Ecuador. Due to economic problems in Ecuador and competition from Chinese hat producers production of panama hats in Ecuador is dwindling.
Indonesia
they made hats
Another lightweight favorite were Milan hats, made from Tuscan straw grown in Italy. Woven loosely, these hats offered protection from the sun and allowed for good ventilation.
Cloche hats were the felt bell-shaped hats popular in the 1920's. These were fashionable for women. Cloche hats were invented in 1908 by Caroline Reboux. These hats made a comeback in the 1960's.