How hat fashion has evolved throughout history

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Alison Goodrum |

TED-Ed

• March 2026

Humans have been fashioning caps since the dawn of civilization. A bearskin cap from the Bronze Age is one of the earliest surviving hats, discovered alongside Europe’s oldest mummy. Hats aren’t just for keeping heads warm or making a fashion statement— they’ve been used throughout history as a symbol of status, power, and politics. Alison L. Goodrum traces the illustrious history of headwear. [Directed by Biljana Labović, narrated by Alexandra Panzer, music by Cem Misirlioglu, WORKPLAYWORK].