The Straw Hat Riot of 1922: A Clash over Fashion Rules

In 1922, New York City witnessed a rather unusual event - the Straw Hat Riot. This riot was not caused by political or economic issues but by the unwritten rules of men's fashions at the time.

Straw hats had emerged in the 19th century as summer - time wear, often associated with summer sporting events such as boating. Soft Panama hats, derived from tropical attire, also became popular as informal summer wear. By the early 20th century, straw boaters were acceptable day attire for businessmen in North American cities during the height of summer. However, there was an unwritten rule: one should not wear a straw hat after September 15, which was known as "felt hat day".

This date was somewhat arbitrary; it had been September 1 earlier but later shifted to mid - month. Stockbrokers could get away with destroying each other's hats as they were considered "companions", but such behavior was not acceptable among strangers. Men wearing straw hats after September 15 were not only subject to ridicule but also had to face the risk of having their hats knocked off and stomped on by youths. Newspapers often warned people about the approaching September 15, reminding them to switch to felt or silk hats.

The riot began on September 13, 1922, two days before the unspoken date. A group of youths in the former “Mulberry Bend” area of Manhattan started the trouble by removing and stomping on the hats of factory workers. When they tried to do the same to a group of dock workers, the dock workers fought back, and a brawl ensued. This brawl halted traffic on the Manhattan Bridge and was eventually broken up by the police, with some arrests made.

The next evening, the situation escalated. Gangs of teenagers roamed the streets with large sticks, some with nails driven through the tops to hook hats. They targeted pedestrians wearing straw hats and beat those who resisted. Several men were hospitalized after resisting hat - snatching, and many arrests were made. The police were slow to respond, and even off - duty officers were caught up in the brawls when rioters tried to snatch their hats.

After the riot, many of those arrested for hat - snatching chose to pay fines instead of serving jail time. The longest - recorded jail sentence for a teen was three days. The tradition of the seasonal switch from straw to felt hats gradually disappeared, and with it, the straw hat riot became a part of New York City's history, a curious chapter in the story of fashion and social norms.