Before the late 19th century, only noble class men could wear gat, which represented their social status and protected their topknots.

[1] As gannil requires artisanship throughout a complex series of techniques involving an array of materials, it has been designated as Intangible Cultural Property No.

Usually, the following hats are considered to be the first specimens of what is known as gat today: the so-called iphyeong baekhwa pimo (입형백화피모; 笠形白樺皮帽) from Geumnyeongchong (금령총; 金鈴塚), an ancient Silla tomb located in Gyeongju, and the pan-shaped gat which is distinct from ordinary hats in pattern and shape and is depicted on the murals of the Gamsinchong (감신총; 龕神塚), an ancient Goguryeo tomb.

During the Joseon period, black gat (흑립; 黑笠; heungnip) was restricted to men who had passed the gwageo, or civil service examinations.

It is crafted in the same manner as a black gat but from sambe (hemp), consistent with traditional Korean hempen mourning garb.