Provided are a protective headwear and method of manufacturing the headwear. The headwear includes a body, band and plurality of protective inserts. The body has an opening and a crown, and is configured to fit a head of a person. The band extends from and about the opening of the body to the interior of the body and partially toward the crown. The band is free floating with respect to the body and configured to fit the head of the person. The band includes a plurality of pockets disposed about a base stitching that secures the band to the body. The protective inserts are configured to be received into the pockets to provide a protective function to the head of the person. The protective inserts are disposed adjacently to one another about the band and extend from the base stitching of the band to the crown of the body.