New Era, founded in 1920 by German immigrant Ehrhardt Koch, is one of the leading brands producing sports hats and accessories. The company, which started by producing 60,000 Gatsby-style caps in its very first year, has come a long way to become a global leader in the industry.
In the 1930s, when Ehrhardt's son Harold joined the business, New Era got its start in baseball caps, producing the first professional baseball cap for the Cleveland Indians team in 1934. By the 1950s, New Era was the only independent cap manufacturer for baseball teams, and in 1954 Harold designed the 59FIFTY fitted cap, giving it a more contemporary look.
In the 2000s, New Era consolidated its position in the global market, opening offices in Europe, Japan and Australia. In the 2010s, the company expanded its rights to major sports leagues in the U.S., becoming the official cap supplier of the NFL and NBA, making New Era the only brand in sports history with exclusive on-field cap rights.
New Era continues to develop its products with a focus on quality and great storytelling. With more than 100 years of history, the company is just at the beginning of its journey, with a renewed commitment to creating great products, building strong relationships and changing the game in the world of sports and culture.