The origin of hat-wearing goes as far back as primitive man. Historical evidence reveals some forms of head covering was used for protection against the elements, weapons and falling objects, often pelts or animal skins. Throughout early Egypt, Rome and Greece, the hat was worn as a symbol of distinction or a mark of rank. It is a commonly embraced belief that felt, the most common material used in hat making, was originally discovered by the nomadic tribes of Asia who were known to have used felted sheep's wool for making tents and clothing.

For centuries, both men and women have fancied many forms of headdress but it was only in the late 14th and 15 centuries that hats, as we identify them today, started to be worn. During this time period hats for men played critical roles in men's clothing and were considered an important fashion item, unlike women's hats which only became considered as a fashion item in the 18th Century.

As hats grew in popularity with the societal elite during the 15th Century, an increasingly diverse range of materials were used for their production. Silk, velvet, taffeta, leather, felt and beaver were among the most desired. Hat wearing differed greatly between men and women during this time. With women, hat-wearing was restricted to the upper and middle classes, whereas with men it represented a more essential accessory. During this period too, there was little difference in the hats worn by men and women.

Men's hats also tended to make a symbolic statement. The most notable being the formal tall stiff top hat representing the authority of the bourgeoisie and aristocracy and those who were involved in the professions and trades and the informal soft trilby felt hats which symbolized democracy and revolution and were generally associated with intellectuals, artists and country life.

Throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries, hats have come symbolize everything from class and caste distinction to being complimentary business attire, to forms of outward pride, affiliation and even rebellion. Recently, with the advent of logos, symbols and marketing messages, the hat has taken on the mantle of making social or political statements. In truth, even how it is worn (i.e. the backwards baseball cap) is a symbolic gesture of “bucking the system”.

The Legend Marketing Group®, a world-wide leader in hat creation and distribution, was started as an extension of one of the premier hat makers in the United States in 1986. Created to serve the promotional products distributor with quality US–made headwear, Legend has expanded over the years to become a worldwide leader in hat manufacturing. Today, US-based Legend works with factories in many countries to create a first-rate, world-class product for every order.

In an environment of intense international competition, Legend has continued to adapt new looks, products and services to its distributors. Legend continues to offer distributors a vast variety of headwear options and services that has allowed them preferred status with some of the largest distributors in the industry.

Hats have evolved quite a bit since the first animal skin pelts donned by early man thousands of years ago. Legend has become the premiere manufacturing and distribution alternative that plans to expand its status a global entity in the creation of quality headwear, coupled with delivering a superior product and unparalleled customer service, well into the 21st century.