Dustin’s Cap Has Always Been Part of the Character
Dustin Henderson’s cap isn’t just part of his wardrobe in Stranger Things. Over multiple seasons it’s become part of his identity, as recognisable as his walkie talkie, his quick wit, and his role as the group’s unofficial “ideas person.”
Across the series, Dustin’s cap has functioned as a visual signature: bright, playful, and confidently “Dustin.” It helped reinforce the character’s energy and optimism, even when the story got darker.
That’s why the change in Season 5 stands out.
In Season 5, Dustin’s look is noticeably more toned down. Costume designer Amy Parris has explained that the design choices reflect Dustin’s emotional state after Season 4, noting that “His colors are reflective of his emotions,” and also that “His hat is no longer a big statement with a slogan.”
The cap shift aligns with a broader move toward darker, more muted styling, and reflects Dustin’s grief following Eddie Munson’s death. It’s still a trucker cap, still consistent with his character, but the tone has changed.
The Production Cap: Who Made It, Where, and Why It Matters
Commissioned in Early 2023, the Season 5 cap wasn’t pulled from retail stock. It was a commissioned piece created specifically for production use.
Throwback Brand was commissioned in early 2023 to develop the cap for Stranger Things Season 5. The development process reportedly took around eight months to perfect the final design before it was approved and manufactured in Whitesville, Kentucky.
This is an important detail for provenance and collectability: it anchors the cap to a specific maker, location, and known production timeline, rather than being an anonymous mass retail item.
While Netflix commissioned 10 caps for use in production around late 2023, Throwback Brand manufactured a total run of 100 caps at the time.
- 10 caps commissioned for production use
- 90 additional authentic backup caps produced during the same run
Because Throwback Brand was under NDA, they were unable to publicly disclose the origin or originality of these caps, leaving the remaining stock effectively hidden from fans and collectors.
Buy the last of these caps here
How The Fandom Cult Secured 20 Original Caps
The existence and origin of the unused caps emerged through a chance encounter on a reselling site. From there, a series of conversations confirmed the caps provenance and originality.
As a result, The Fandom Cult negotiated the acquisition of:
- 10 caps in November 2025
- a further 10 caps in January 2026
That means we've been able to offer a total of 20 caps to real fans around the US, UK, Europe and even Australia, all originating from the original 100-cap Throwback Brand run produced for the Season 5 design.
Most notably, these caps have remained largely under the radar, with no major public awareness that original backups were still in circulation.
If you were lucky enough to get one, then you've got in your possession something truly unique - I can wait to see the first fan pictures of a lucky cap owner with Gaten Matarazzo!
The Official Licensed Versions: Close, But Not Correct
There are officially licensed versions available, and it’s important to recognise that they have their place. For casual fans, general wear, or cosplay, they’re a convenient way to get the overall look.
But for collectors and screen-accuracy purists, the licensed versions miss key details.
Walmart / Target Licensed Cap
- Inconsistent centre stripe that is irregular in size
- An inaccurate flat rope trim
- 4 rows of brim stitching does not match that of the original
- The materials and finish are not as accurate or premium
- The Box Lunch version
Box Lunch
This version is very similar to that from Walmart and Target, however it also:
- Features a D-20 dice on the front face and,
- a Stranger Things logo above the snapback fixing.
Hot Topic Licensed Cap
The Hot Topic cap improves some elements, but introduces others:
- This features a black rubber Stranger Things logo on the front
- The stripes appear closer to accurate
- The cap is lower quality overall, with less premium materials and build
Why the Details Matter to True Fans
For many fans, the appeal isn’t simply “a Dustin-style cap.”
It’s the details:
- the exact build
- the correct materials
- the accurate trim and stitching
- and most importantly, authenticity and provenance
That’s what separates “inspired by” from “screen accurate.”
And when those details are tied to a confirmed production run of only 100 made, created by the same manufacturer who supplied the show, the cap becomes more than an accessory.
For collectors, it becomes a piece of Stranger Things production history.
