The Dobbs & Co hat brand and store were created as a radical 1908 retail experiment in New York, by executives of hat company Crofut & Knapp. Initially, the hats branded as Dobbs & Co could only be purchased from a sumptuous new Dobbs store on Fifth Avenue. However, they rapidly achieved nationwide distribution by appointing exclusive agents. With avant-garde designs, Dobbs hats targeted young, successful men and soon became the most fashionable hats in town. The brand survived bankruptcy in 1931 and multiple changes in ownership. Dobbs hats, manufactured by Hatco, are still available today.