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Rice farmer in northern Cambodia wearing a straw hat.

The conical hat, sedge hat, rice hat, paddy hat or coolie hat is a simple style of straw hat originating in East and Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, China, and Japan. It has a conical shape and is kept on the head by a cloth (often silk) chin strap; an internal band of the same material keeps the hat itself from resting on the wearer's head. Conical hats are used primarily as protection from the sun and rain. When made of straw or matting, it can be dipped in water and worn as an impromptu, evaporative, cooling device.

Because of its distinctive shape, it is used often in the depiction of East Asians. The term "coolie" has become a controversial racial slur, and the term is used in conjunction with the hats' visual style as a strong contribution to derogatory Asian stereotypes. Originally the term meant someone who worked hard and, although borrowed from an Indian word, was in use in China in 1726. In recent years, the hat made an appearance in a t-shirt series by Abercrombie & Fitch, which came under fire for allegedly racist caricatured depictions of Asian Americans.^[1]

Recently, as part of international one day cricket matches in Australia, the conical hat has been a fashion phenomenon amongst spectators with many decorated in Australian green and gold livery. Given that spectators are exposed for long periods in direct sunlight, the conical hat is a logical sunsafe device.

Japanese kasa (笠)

There existed a military version of the conical hat in Japan: the jingasa (陣笠), which was a helmet made of lacquered hardened leather. There, the regular straw version is called sugegasa (菅笠). In mainland China and Taiwan, it is called dǒu lì (斗笠; literally, a one-dǒu bamboo hat). The Vietnamese name is Nón lá (leaf hat).

The "Coolie Hat" switch found on many aircraft throttle and stick controls takes its name from this hat, which is shaped similarly.

• Hat
• Headgear

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