Resistol
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hat manufacturing |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Founder | E.R. Byer, Harry Rolnick |
| Headquarters | Garland, Texas , United States |
| Products | Cowboy hats, safari hats, baseball caps |
| Owner | Pro Equine Group (since 2009) |
Resistol Hats, headquartered in Garland, Texas, United States, is a prominent manufacturer primarily recognized for its cowboy hat production. As an integral component of Garland's industrial landscape, Resistol offers an extensive selection of headwear, encompassing styles such as safari and baseball caps.
Peter Applebome from Texas Monthly observed, "If you reside in Texas, your hat is likely a Resistol." Annually, the company retails approximately one million cowboy hats, with prices ranging from $15 for straw work hats to $3,000 for high-end models crafted from beaver and ermine. The cowboy hat continues to serve as a powerful emblem of Texan culture on a global scale.
Among the distinguished individuals who have donned Resistol hats are actors John Wayne and Henry Fonda, country music icon George Strait, U.S. Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Ronald Reagan, as well as the famed Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry. Additionally, troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety wear Resistol hats in a distinctive custom shade known as Textan.
History
Established in 1927 by E.R. Byer and Harry Rolnick under the name Byer-Rolnick in Dallas, Texas, the company initially specialized in producing men's felt hats. The brand name "Resistol" was chosen to signify the hats' durability against weather conditions and scalp oils. In 1938, operations moved to a larger facility located in Garland, where manufacturing still takes place.
During the tenure of President Johnson, Western-style hats were utilized as diplomatic gifts. In the late 1960s, Byer-Rolnick was acquired by Koret of California (then Koracorp Industries), which itself was purchased by Levi Strauss & Co. in 1979. Taking advantage of the cowboy fashion surge in the late 1970s, Resistol implemented around-the-clock shifts and doubled its sales within three years. Nevertheless, demand dropped significantly by 1982. In 1985, Levi Strauss sold Resistol to entrepreneur Irving Joel. Since 2009, ownership has been held by Pro Equine Group.