59FIFTY Day: The Cap That Shaped History

For over 70 years, one silhouette has moved effortlessly between sport, fashion and culture, without ever losing its iconic status. The 59FIFTY is more than a cap, it's an icon in the world of both sport and fashion.

Worn on the field, a favourite in streetwear style, and loved by those of all ages, it has become one of the most recognisable accessories in global style and culture.

Which is why each year we celebrate 59FIFTY day, a day purely to celebrate that legacy.

To mark the occasion this year, we’ve gone back to our roots. Officially teaming up with legendary filmmaker Spike Lee, the man who helped shape the cultural shift of the 59FIFTY all of those years ago.

To kickstart the celebration, we will be releasing a limited-edition collection with Spike Lee, dropping one design per day from the 3rd May, with the full collection available on the 9th May.

The History of an Icon

Born from a passion for quality and craftsmanship, the 59FIFTY is now a globally recognised accessory and an established cultural icon.

Celebrated each year on May 9th as a celebration to the name of the cap itself (5/9). The date is a symbolic way to honour the 59FIFTY’s iconic status and longstanding history in sports and culture.

Before the 59FIFTY existed, the generic baseball cap lacked substance and reliable structure. Quality and fit were inconsistent, materials cheap, and cap customisation and design options were limited.

Man wearing a gray 59fifty cap and brown jacket sitting on steps.

In 1954, Harold Koch created a product that shaped the future of the baseball cap for years to come .

By experimenting with the original Brooklyn-style cap, he created something cleaner and more robust with an enhanced structure, Which we now know as the 59FIFTY fitted cap.

This was a ground-breaking moment in cap history, and didn’t just evolve the game, but changed its trajectory entirely.

By the 70s, the 59FIFTY was not only a staple in Major League Baseball, it was the standard. A memorable moment in baseball cap history, and the starting point for everything that was still yet to come.

What Makes the 59FIFTY Different?

The 59FIFTY cap creation set the standard for caps and headwear all over the world. Every intricate detail serves a purpose, and enhances the way a cap looks, feels and is worn.

Key 59FIFTY Features

Structured Crown

A reinforced front panel ensures the cap holds its shape, keeping logos visible and centred.

Flat Visor

Originally designed flat, this allows wearers to shape the visor their preferred way, creating a signature look.

True Fitted Sizing

The 59FIFTY has no straps or ability for adjustments. It offers a precise fit, allowing individuals to tailor to their own preferences and style.

High-Profile Silhouette

A bold shape that stands out on the field.

Combined, this created something that hadn’t been seen before - a cap that wasn’t only functional, but also offered customisation and expression through different designs and styles.

GO TO 59FIFTY STYLE GUIDE

Moments That Changed the Game

Person wearing a blue new era 59fifty cap with white text standing on steps outdoors.

1954 - The Birth of the True Fitted

The 59FIFTY is introduced, redefining the baseball cap.

Person wearing a New York Yankees 59fifty cap in a tunnel with reflective ceiling

1980s - From Field to Fans

For the first time ever, fans could buy and wear the same caps sported by professionals out on the field, bringing overall hype and authenticity into everyday attire.

Person wearing a white 59fifty cap, black leather jacket, and camouflage trousers in a reflective, circular mirror.

1993 - Becoming The Official On-Field Cap

The 59FIFTY became the official cap of Major League Baseball, cementing its place in the sporting world.

Three people posing together in a tunnel wearing 59fifty caps with a fisheye lens effect.

1996 - A Cultural Shift

A memorable moment that blew the New Era legacy wide open. Infamous film director Spike Lee requested a custom red New York Yankees cap, moving away from the iconic traditional team colours. The demand that followed reshaped the future of the brand and opened the door further for creative expression.

2000s - Going Beyond Sport

From the NFL sidelines to the NBA court, the 59FIFTY crossed over from sport to the fashion world in a huge cultural shift, with an impressive catalogue of celebrity endorsements and collaborations under our belt.

Two people standing on stone steps wearing leather jackets and 59fifty caps.

From Sport to Street to Stage

The 59FIFTY cap has been part of a huge cultural shift, and has helped shape streetwear fashion into what it is today.

In the 80s and 90s, hip-hop was on its way up, and adopted the fitted cap as a symbol of individuality. Artists wore it to represent their city, their team, and as a form of self-expression.

What started in the music industry quickly spread even further, making the jump from:

Underground scenes to global stages
Sportswear to streetwear
Everyday-wear to fashion statement

Collaborations with designers, artists, and brands pushed the boundaries even further.

Today, it’s worn everywhere, on stage, on the runway, and in everyday life - Making the 59FIFTY a staple part in the history of New Era.

spike lee wearing a red yankees jacket and a red yankees 59fifty cap standing in a stadium

The Spike Lee Collection: A New Chapter

This 59FIFTY day, we reunite with Spike Lee for a collection that honours and reminisces one of the most significant cultural moments in New Era history.

This collection will be released through daily drops, with a new cap design launching every day from May the 3rd, with the full collection becoming available on May 9th.

SHOP THE SPIKE LEE COLLAB