One of the more common things we notice daily but never pay attention to is the holes you see at the sides of men’s hats or the baseball cap specifically. There’s a lot of conspiracy theory about it, but let’s get our facts straight this time.
Most caps have six embroidered holes known as eyelets. And there are eyelets in each panel to enable ventilation. Sewn or metal eyelets can be used. However, if the cap has a mesh back panels, the eyelets are usually omitted because the mesh serves as ventilation.
But aside from the eyelets, caps have other parts, too. Are you excited to learn about them? If yes, then let’s get going!
What are the Parts of a Cap Called?
Crown
This refers to the cap’s top layer. The crown of a hat is the part that rests on your forehead. You may not always notice, but the cap’s crown is made up of panels. Commonly, there are six panels on a cap’s crown, but four or five are acceptable as well. Buckram, buttons, sweatbands, and eyelets, as we already mentioned, are a few of the gems in this crown that tie everything together.
Panels
The panels are the central part of a baseball cap, the part that actually forms the hat. A baseball cap’s rounded structure is created by sewing a number of these panels together with a suitable thread. Typically, five or six sections are sewn together (but up to 8).
Trucker caps and caps with screen printing or sublimation decorations on the front panels are commonly made with five panels caps. And to create different styles, panels are sewn together with threads that match or contrast with the color of the cap material.
Brim or Visor
These terms refer to the hard part of a cap that protects and shades the person wearing it from the sun. It is attached to the front of the cap and is usually made of two pieces of fabric with a piece of cardboard or plastic sandwiched between them. This is where the sandwich enters the picture.
The sandwich is an extra layer of a different color or a woven label with a logo between the top and bottom of the visor. This adds a little texture to the cap and provides another opportunity to customize it. Also, most visors can be angled to fit your needs and your face.
Buckram
To create a structured cap, stiff woven fabric is inserted into the front two panels of the crown. This buckram will give you the height you need to stand out in a crowd. However, if you dislike structure and prefer a more relaxed, easygoing look, the unstructured crown is the way to go.
A heavy wash and no buckram make for a soft, comfortable fit. Several headwear companies report that the unstructured, low profile cap is the best-selling cap in their product lines.
Profile
When someone mentions the profile, they’re referring to how closely the cap follows the lines of the brow. It refers to the front panel’s angle. A high-profile cap extends past the brow and angles almost straight up the front crown, whereas a low-profile cap fits snugly against the brow.
Top Button or Squatchee
The top of the hat has a button that serves as a decorative feature. It’s located at the top of the cap, where the panels meet. The color of the button is usually the same as the hat’s color.
Eyelets
The round holes sewn or attached near the top of each panel are known as eyelets. These are designed to keep your head cool while also providing ventilation. They can be punched with small metal rivets or can be holes in the fabric with a sewn edge—eyelets aid ventilation.
Sweatband
This is the fabric band that runs from the inside bottom of the crown to the top of the head. The sweatband is helpful in a variety of situations. The sweatband can make a cap very comfortable and can also help wick moisture away depending on the fabric. There are even cooling sweatbands that lower the fabric’s temperature by 5 degrees or more.
Back Closures
Closures aid in the proper fitting of caps and can have an impact on the final appearance of the product. One of the features that will aid in the sale of the cap is this. Closures are fitted, stretchy, and adjustable. Fitted caps are sized by inches and have a closed back.
To determine which cap will fit you best, you must first determine the size of your head. The stretch fit has a closed back as well, but the magical term here is stretch: the fabric and sweatband stretch to fit a wide range of sizes. S/M, M/L, and L/XL are the most common sizes. The last type of closure is adjustable, which is the most common.
On adjustable caps, a variety of closures are available. Hook and loop – an industry term for Velcro’s trademark – Adjustable V Clip (also known as sliding buckle), deluxe locking brass buckle, or plastic snap are the most common types of closures used Snapback Caps and Trucker Caps often.
The Bottom Line
Every part of a cap is essential because they work together for you to enjoy the most of your cap. We hope that this article helped you understand the purpose of the holes at the side of your cap. And also hope that we have helped you learn the different parts of your cap and what they are called.
READ ALSO: Flat Cap: What is It and Where Does it Come From?
