A cap is a kind of headgear. Caps are different than hats in that they don’t have a full brim and include crowns that fit closer than hats. They are usually designed for warmth, but most people now use them for aesthetic reasons.  Types of caps include the beanie, beret, biretta, coif, flat cap, kepi and the baseball cap. Baseball caps are the most popular kind of head-wear and can serve almost any function imaginable. Baseball players use them to block the sun from their eyes in order to catch the ball. Fans wear them to root for their favorite team, whether in baseball or other sport. People use them to show support for a belief or political party. Some just like to wear caps to fit a particular style. Custom caps, which are just caps that have been personalized, are used for a myriad of reasons, including advertising, political statements, as support for an organization, or even to announce the birth of a child!

Custom caps make great advertising tools. They can be given away at company picnics and used to advertise years after the event, even after an employee has left the company.  Custom caps can be designed with anything from business logos to catchphrases to names. They can announce the birth of a child or tell people what you think. Political candidates can hand them out at rallies to elicit support and to receive more votes.

Custom caps can be silk-screened or embroidered according to customer specifications. Custom caps are embroidered much like other items of clothing. There is no design beyond the capabilities of a talented sewer, although more complex designs can involve a lot of time. Silk-screened custom caps are achieved with the help of technology. Silk-screen, or serigraphy, is a printing technique that uses a stencil which creates an image on screen of silk or other impermeable substance. A squeegee is then used to force ink onto the fabric of the cap. This method allows for a quicker design process than embroidering, and the ability to design more complex objects.  The downside is that silk-screen involves ink, which over time can fade.

Custom caps can be made from almost any kind of material, including cotton, nylon, or polyester. In addition, they have many different styles. Most have a bill to keep the sun from getting in the wearers’ eyes, but others do without the bills and are still referred to as caps. Some caps have wide rims for a better fit on the head. Custom caps can be made with brass clip, Velcro, plastic strap, brass clip/eyelet or elastic fasteners to allow for a personalized fit.

Caps are so widespread that people hardly give a second thought about them. Custom caps are becoming more and more popular as people realize that they can use them as an extension of their personalities, touting personal beliefs and recognizing family members and friends. Custom caps will someday replace the mass-produced cap as the most popular headgear in the United States.