Bersaglieri Hat

What is a Bersaglieri hat? The Bersaglieri belongs to a group of hats that became popular in the 1930s and, at that time, evolved into a genuine trend accessory. The shape of the hat, characterised by a brim folded up at the back and sides, is very distinctive and eye-catching. Felt was exclusively used as the material in its manufacture. A similar hat that was modelled after the Bersaglieri hat is the Robin Hood hat, which additionally features a high feather as decoration.

The history of the Bersaglieri hat dates back several decades. In the 1930s, the then Duke of Windsor combined a variant of the Tyrolean traditional hat with his attire, causing the hat model to become famous almost overnight and gaining popularity worldwide. However, the namesake of the hat was the Bersaglieri, a troop founded in 1836. Members of the Italian group were exclusively sharpshooters. The name Bersaglieri was derived from the Italian word "bersaglio," which translates to "target." However, the Bersaglieri never actually wore the hat named after them. Instead, they wore a black leather hat with a round shape and a wide, straight brim. Additionally, a green rooster feather plume was placed on the right side as decoration.