In 1797, a man walked into the streets of London wearing a new kind of hat and caused a riot.

In this episode of The Threads of History, we explore the surprising and chaotic birth of the top hat. What made this simple piece of clothing so shocking that it drew crowds, sparked outrage, and even led to a fine for disturbing the peace?

From the story of John Hetherington to the rise of industrial fashion, this episode traces how the top hat transformed from a public scandal into a symbol of status, power, and modern identity.

Along the way, we’ll uncover what this strange moment in history reveals about class anxiety, social change, and why fashion has always been more powerful than it seems.