Sports caps are a style of hat that can suit a wide variety of children, even those who do not play sports. A sports cap appeals to kids and their parents by combining functionality with fashion. This is a guide to the sports caps trends any child will want to wear.
Table of Contents
Overview of the hat market
Top sports cap trends for kids
Attract a wider market in sports hats
Overview of the hat market
The global headwear market was valued at USD 20.8 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach a value of USD 29.4 billion by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.89% between 2023 and 2028.
A sports cap is any hat that is designed for sports or to look sporty. These types of hats protect hair and skin from dust, dirt, and sunlight when playing sports or participating in outdoor activities.
The rising popularity of hats for babies and children among parents is fuelling the growth of sports hats as kids’ outdoor accessories and fashion items. In addition, sportswear sales have experienced exponential growth over the past few years, thus boosting the sport cap market.
Top sports cap trends for kids
Baseball caps
A baseball cap is a fabric hat originally worn by baseball athletes and fans to shield their eyes from the sun during games and training. Children’s baseball caps generally feature a large visor to ensure the comfort of children. A large visor can protect against dust and sun damage on the nose, mouth, and eyes during outdoor activities.
Baseball caps can be made from a variety of materials, including cotton, jersey, wool, and polyester. Baby caps may also come with eyelets to ensure the hat remains breathable or an adjustable snapback to enable fit for smaller head sizes. Adjustable backs can be designed as a snap closure, nylon strap with plastic buckle, Velcro strap, leather strap, or cloth strap with metal slider.
Trucker hats
A trucker hat is a type of baseball cap that comes with a broad front and plastic mesh back. The front of a trucker hat is often made of polyester foam, while the mesh can be made from polyester or nylon.
Trucker caps are lightweight and breathable enough to keep kids’ heads cool during outdoor adventures. Some trucker caps may also come with a front panel with foam backing for extra comfort and durability. Other trucker hats may even feature a cool dry sweatband along the inside to wick away moisture.
For a more youthful look, the crown, mesh back, and brim of a trucker cap can each be created in different colors for a color blocked design. They can even feature all-over prints and patterns like florals, tie-dye, or geometric shapes to create a more unique statement. Alternatively, some children’s trucker hats may boast a monochrome look, where the entire hat is produced in the same color.
Custom logos
Sports caps are appealing partly because they can be customized with any logo or design along the crown. Custom logos are great for promoting a brand or giving parents and their kids a way to express interests, mottos, or humor through headwear.
The front, back, and side of the crown or on top of the brim are different areas of the hat that are often customizable. Branding can also be added to a baby cap in a variety of ways. A 2D or 3D embroidered custom logo is most common, but embroidered, woven, rubber, metal, or leather patches can also be applied to the hat. Heat pressed printing or screen printing are other methods for custom branding.
Flat brims
A flat brim cap is a hat with a bill that is not curved. Flat brim caps often feature a taller crown instead of a low profile to emphasize the flatness of the bill.
Hats with straight bills are popular in streetwear apparel and are a great way for children to make a cool style statement. Flat brim hats can also keep the sun out of a child’s eyes and may stay on the head better than a traditional curved bill cap.
Flat bills can be paired with a variety of cap styles, including trucker hats, baseball caps, structured or unstructured caps, and 5 or 6 panel hats. The flat style of the bill can be highlighted through contrast stitching or a sandwich visor.
Bucket hats
Bucket hats, also known as sun hats, are hats with a downward-sloping brim. They can feature a narrow or wide brim and are commonly made from cotton, denim, corduroy, or canvas. Some bucket hats can even be designed as a reversible hat with different colors or patterns on each side.
For kids, strings that can be tied under the chin or an adjustable and removable chinstrap are often added to ensure a comfortable fit on smaller heads. Bucket hats for kids can also be made in many different colors and patterns with logos, patches, embroidery, bows, and appliques added to the hat for extra style.
Attract a wider market in sports hats
Sports caps are a great headwear option for kids because there is a wide array of different products available. They are a practical and fashionable headwear option for children. From baseball caps to trucker hats to bucket hats, even the pickiest of children will find a sports cap suited to their tastes. To make kids even happier, parents may be interested in sports hats with custom logos and trendy flat brims.
The versatility of sports hats enables them to be worn during both outdoor activities and casual occasions. Businesses are advised to offer caps in designs that range from sporty to stylish to ensure they reach as wide of a customer base as possible.
