The story begins well before the arrival of the legendary NY cap, at the end of the 1800s when the German-born brothers Erhardt and Christopher Koch emigrated to the USA, to the suburbs of Buffalo, New York. After working for several years in the hat-making business and experiencing some failures, the eldest of the Erhardt family founded his own hat-making company in 1920 with financial help from his aunt: the E. Koch Cap Company was born. The business was a real success and in the first year the company already produced 60,000 caps, including the famous wool newsboy cap which became a high-end accessory prized by the men of Buffalo. It was later in 1922 that this family business decided to change its name, becoming the New Era Cap Company. His only son Harold Koch joined the company in 1925 when he was barely 17 years old.

Long before the arrival of the legendary NY cap, the Koch brothers, of German origin, arrived in the United States in the late 1800s. After several years of hat making, the eldest of the family founded his own hat company in 1920 with the support of their aunt. The business grew and was a real success in its first year, producing 60,000 caps. Among these, the iconic wool newsboy cap became a high-end accessory prized by Buffalo men. In 1992, the family business changed its name to New Era Cap Company. Harold's only son joined the company at 17 and brought a new lease of life!