When was the first sombrero made

The charro is the most widespread sombrero, and most likely what we picture when we think of a sombrero [11]. It is this hat which is worn by traditional Mexican Mariachi musicians. These particular hats would be too heavy and impractical to wear out in the fields [12], due to the exaggerated size of the brims and the ornate decoration of the hat.

The hat would be decorated in a similar fashion to their clothing, usually with lots of beadwork and embroidery, often using gold threads. Mariachi musicians have helped to make the sombrero an iconic piece of Mexican culture, as the sombrero has come to be an integral part of their costume.

This national dance of Mexico is a courtship dance, and tells the story of a young charro man who tries to gain the affections of a woman. His most prized possession is his sombrero, which he throws on the ground as an offering for her, and she accepts by dancing on the brim of his hat [13].

Those who participate are called charros, and they wear the charro hat [14]. The sides of the hat are slightly upturned, and they are usually made of animal skin, sporting a thin band around the base [15]. These are the type of hats that would have been worn by cowboys in old Westerns, and are still worn by Mexican cowboys to this date. However, unfortunately the sombrero has come to be associated with negative Mexican stereotypes.

It is believed that Mestizo workers in these hot climates came up with a wide-brimmed straw hat that would keep the sun out of their eyes and faces, in effect, carrying their own bit of shade around with them. What makes the sombrero such a useful sun shade is its shape. It looks somewhat like an oversized cowboy hat, but with a cone-shaped center. The brim was at least twice as wide, preferably large enough to prevent the sun from reaching any part of the face, neck and a good bit of the shoulders.

The chin strap was added to keep the oversized hats from flying away in a stray gust of wind. The most familiar, and least expensive, type of sombrero is made out of straw. These can be all one color, or be woven out of different colors of dyed straw to create patterns.

Brims could be fringed or finished in a closed weave, sometimes with embroidered edges. The more expensive varieties are made of felt or velvet, some with gold braid around the brims, embroidered patterns or beadwork.

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