Out of necessity, John B. Stetson created his first hat in the early 1860s - the birth of the cowboy hat, which became the unmistakable symbol of the Wild West and laid the foundation for the founding of the John B. Stetson Company. STETSON hats have been worn by icons such as "Buffalo Bill", George Montgomery, Bing Crosby, James Dean and John Wayne. Since its founding in 1865, Stetson has remained true to the traditional manufacturing process.