Berets

When most people think of berets many things come to mind; France, the military, painters, and more. Berets have been an iconic style of hat for hundreds of years. While the modern beret has only been around since the 19th century, similar styles of hat to the beret can be seen as far back in history as the Bronze Age. The beret is a round, flat hat which is usually made from woven, hand-knit, or crocheted wool. The commercial production of Basque style berets began in the 17th century in the Oloron-Sainte-Marie area of southern France. It was originally just a local craft however in the 19th century beret-making became industrialized and expanded to further regions outside of southern France including Italy and soon after, the entire world. Berets are also seen worn as a part of various military outfits, uniforms for the girl scouts, and as a popular fashion item.