The expression “keep it under your hat” refers to withholding information or keeping a secret. However a hat is less likely to conceal something than to reveal important information about the wearer.
Perched atop the most prominent part of the body, a hat can serve as a badge of social rank or a symbol of faith and values. It may proclaim who we are, where we live and how we fit into the communities to which we belong.
The variety of shapes, designs and materials used in creating a headdress reflects our geographic and cultural differences. But knowing something about the hat and understanding its function can deepen our knowledge of other cultures and instill an awareness and appreciation of the values and attitudes we as humans share.
Our Story
Stacey Miller is a mitrologist, a collector and an authority on the cultural significance of hats and headdresses. Stacey got her start in the 1980s while driving from Spain to India. She purchased her first hat, a topi, from a vendor of skullcaps in Istanbul. Since then her collection has continued to grow and includes over 1300 hats from 150 countries and many more cultures, tribes and ethnic groups. With a passion for travel and a fascination with other lifestyles, Stacey has researched the cultural significance of the headdresses to understand the stories they tell about the people who wear them.
Our plan is to become a non-profit organization in 2023 with the intention of creating a Museum of World Cultures so that the hats and other items of cultural significance are easily accessible to the public. Meanwhile, a virtual museum and online database will be coming soon.