UNDERSTANDING OUR HEADWEAR
When it comes to caps, every part has a purpose.
Whether it's to provide shade, offer comfort, or simply look good.
The different parts of a cap contribute to the overall experience.
Crown
The crown refers to the top of the cap.
The crown is made of various fabrics.
The crown of the cap is made up of panels.
Typically there are 6, but you can have 5 as well.
Panels may vary in size and shape.
Standard panel width: 75mm across.
There are a few jewels in the crown that make it all come together.
Things such as buckram, buttons, sweatbands and eyelets.
Buckram
Buckram is the stiff woven fabric that is put into the front panels of the crown to make a structured cap.
This buckram gives you just the right height you want to stand out in a crowd.
But if you don’t like structure and are more of a relaxed, easy-going person, the unstructured crown is the way to go. No buckram and a heavy wash make for a soft, comfortable fit.
According to multiple headwear companies, the unstructured, low profile cap is the best selling cap in their product lines.
Button
The button is the jewel on top of the crown.
The button helps hold all the panels together.
It is either metal or plastic and is covered with the fabric used on the cap.
It comes either in the same color or a contrasting color.
Size: 15mm diameter
Eyelets
Most caps have 6 embroidered holes, one in each panel to allow for ventilation.
But if the cap has mesh back panels, the eyelets are typically left off since the mesh takes on the ventilation role.
The eyelets can be sewn or metal.
Embroidered eyelets
Gunmetal eyelets: 8mm diameter
Sweatband
The sweatband is the band of fabric lining the inside bottom of the crown that touches the head.
The sweatband serves multiple purposes.
Depending on the fabric, the sweatband can make a cap very comfortable and can also help wick moisture away.
There are even cooling sweatbands that actually reduce the temperature of the fabric by 5 degrees or more.
The sweatband is usually 30mm wide
4 rows of stitching on some styles
Enclosure
There are fitted, stretch fit and adjustable closures.
Fitted caps have a closed back and are sized by inches.
You have to know the size of your head to know which cap would fit you the best.
The stretch fit has a closed back as well, but the magical term is stretch.
The fabric and sweatband have stretch in them so that these caps can fit a range of sizes.
They typically come as S/M, M/L or L/XL
The last closure is the most common and are adjustable.
It is the most common because of the ease of making the cap fit a larger variety of head sizes just by simply adjusting the closure.
Adjustable closures can be hook/loop tape (Velcro), plastic snap tab or tuck strap with a metal slide or buckle.
The tuck strap is typically made of the same fabric as the rest of the cap.
Gunmetal belt buckle and tuck-in return OR
Self fabric Velcro strap OR
Plastic tab OR
Gunmetal clasp
Peak, visor or brim
A lot of people call this the bill or brim, but visor is the technical term.
The visor can be flat, pre-curved or even slightly pre-curved.
It is a piece of plastic attached to the front of the crown and is covered with the fabric of choice.
This is where the sandwich comes in.
The sandwich is an extra layer between the top and bottom of the visor that is a different color or can have a woven label with a logo on it.
The sandwich adds a little flavor to the cap and is another spot where you can personalize the cap.
Pre-curved peak of plastic compound which is flexible, durable and ensures maintenance of the shape.
Top stitched with 4 rows of stitching on some styles.
Sandwich peak – 3mm thickness
Suede covered peak
Peak length: +/- 70mm from crown
Binding on edge of peak
Under peak – varies in fabric type
General
Cap size: 58cm circumference
Kids cap size: 54cm
Hat sizes:
S/M – 57cm
L/XL – 60cm
All seams are top stitched.
Back strap size: 16mm wide x 145mm long.
Covered inside seams
Crown is pro-stitched to peak
Branding
Embroidery or screen printing with logo or lettering on front.
Cap embroidery size: 100mm x 53mm
Hat embroidery size: 80mm x 50mm
Visor embroidery size: 80mm x 30mm
Cap printing size
5 panel: 80mm x 50mm
6 panel: 65mmx 55mm
Hat printing size: 100mm x 55mm
Visor printing size: 80mm x 40mm
Logo or lettering on the back of caps can be straight or an arch