Stetson was founder of the John B. Stetson Company, famous for making cowboy hats for the West. He designed a hat with a high crown and wide brim for his use on a western trip, and in 1865, decided that this type of hat should be mass produced. The name Stetson became a symbol of the West. With headquarters in Philadelphia, he provided hats not only for the American West but also across the world with many hat styles.