Action Cap is an American headwear manufacturer that produces the tall-profile caps sold by Draplin Design Co. (DDC) under the “Action Cap” name. The company is based in Orange City, Iowa, and its caps are described by DDC as “cut, sewn and assembled in the USA.”[1]
Design and History
The “Action Cap” moniker was coined by Aaron James Draplin of Draplin Design Co. around 2004, when DDC first began producing its own line of caps.[1] The term refers to the specific tall-cut cap style that DDC favors, a style that Draplin has described as distinct from standard ball caps, trucker caps or farmer caps.[1]
Draplin Design Co. originally sourced its caps from Legend Hats/K-Products, but after that company closed its business, DDC sought a new domestic manufacturer. DDC eventually partnered with Action Cap, whose samples met DDC’s standards for the tall cut and durable construction.[1] DDC’s product listings describe Action Cap as having “been outfitting farmers, truckers, contractors and the occasional carny for a couple years now.”[2]
Draplin’s 2014 book, Draplin Design Co.: Pretty Much Everything, includes a spread in its “Logos, Logos, Logos” chapter that documents his process of refining the Action Caps mark, with an emphasis on the logo exploration practice of copying before making edits.[3]
Meaning and Symbolism
DDC’s product descriptions emphasize the functional, working-class heritage of the cap style. The caps are described as “field-tested” and built for farmers, truckers, little league teams and “the occasional carny.”[1] The “Open Road” edition of the cap features a patch graphic that “doubles as a map, in a pinch,” reinforcing the utilitarian positioning of the product line.[2]
Each DDC Action Cap carries an embroidered patch on the front, with the specific graphic varying by edition. The caps also include an “extra hit of DDC branding” on the inside band.[4]
Typography and Design
Draplin Design Co. is responsible for the visual identity of the Action Cap product line, including the custom-designed patches that appear on each cap.[5] The caps are offered in two construction models: “Cotton Twill Foam Bonded Front / Mesh Back” and “6-Panel Foam Bonded.”[1]
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