Conical straw hat

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The conical hat or coolie hat is a simple style of straw hat originating in East and Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, China, and Japan. It has a conical shape and is kept on the head by a cloth (often silk) chin strap; an internal band of the same material keeps the hat itself from resting on the wearer's head. Conical hats are used primarily as protection from the sun and rain.

Because of its distinctive shape, the hat often strikes Westerners as silly or whimsical, and has seen much use in racist artwork throughout the years in the depiction of East Asians. In recent years, the coolie hat made an appearance in a t-shirt series by Abercrombie & Fitch, which came under fire for allegedly racist caricatured depictions of Asian Americans.

Recently, as part of international one day cricket matches in Australia, the conical hat has been a fashion phenomenon amongst spectators with many decorated in Australian green and gold livery. Given that spectators are exposed for long periods in direct sunlight, the conical hat is a logical sunsafe device.

There existed a military version of the conical hat in Japan: the jingasa, which was a helmet made of lacquered hardened leather.

The "Coolie Hat" switch found on many aircraft throttle and stick controls takes its name from this hat, which is shaped similarly.