Saba’s stores offer Stetson, Resistol hats for style and function

If you’re in the market for a cowboy hat, you’ll find a great selection at your local Saba’s Western Wear store. You know a cowboy hat is more than just a hat – it offers style and protection from the elements, featuring an iconic look. Two well-known brands of cowboy hats – Stetson and Resistol – also have quite a history behind them.
According to the Stetson website, in 1865, John B. Stetson created the John B. Stetson Hat Company by spending $100 to rent a room. He also purchased tools and fur and went to work. One year later, the “Hat of the West” and the now famous “Boss of the Plains” hats were created.
Stetson was trained by an expert – his father was a master hatter. John B. Stetson grew his company into one of America’s most well-known and successful businesses. John was a leader in the hat making industry because of his new styles for fashion and utility.
Now, more than 150 years later, the Stetson hat factory located in Garland, Texas, is one of the largest hat factories in the country. The Stetson name continues to enjoy immediate recognition.
Another well-known cowboy hat brand, Resistol Hats got its start in the early 1920s when young millionaire E.R. Byer invested in the small hat factory of Harry Rolnick. As a customer, Byer was impressed by Rolnick’s quality products and professionalism. In 1927 the team started the company Byer-Rolnick in Dallas. The company produced men’s Western and dress hats, marketed under the new brand name, “Resistol Hats,” meaning they would resist all weather.
The company’s distribution was initially limited to Texas and Oklahoma, but advancements in manufacturing led the company to open a larger facility in Garland, Texas in 1938. Resistol Hats are still made in Garland, Texas today. The Byer-Rolnick company went on to acquire a fur cutting plant and built a rough-body plant in Longview, Texas. This made Byer-Rolnick the first manufacturer to operate the entire felt hat making process from start to finish, enabling the company to oversee quality control and production in all steps.
Demand for the Resistol hats continued, and today this small hat factory is the largest manufacturer of headwear in the world as part of Hatco, Inc., according to the Resistol website.
When you buy a Stetson or Resistol cowboy hat, you know you’re getting a quality product. Stop by your local Saba’s store for a great selection!

Last Updated on 11/18/2022 by Carolyn Sostrom

About the Author:

Carolyn Sostrom

Biography:

Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle.

She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*.

With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower.

She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix.

Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.

CLN Community & Event Sponsor