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Bollman Hat Co. buys majority stake in UK brand
Cris Collingwood//February 3, 2023
Adamstown-based Bollman Hat Company has taken majority stock in British hat maker Kangol.
Bollman, the oldest hat maker in the United States, said Wednesday that it will hold 51% equity share and full intellectual property rights of Kangol. Frasers Group will retain the remaining equity share.
The move is a natural progression for Bollman, an employee-owned company established in Lancaster County in 1868, as they have held the global rights to develop and produce Kangol headwear since 2001, the company said.
“This is a very exciting time for us and for the Kangol brand. Bollman has served as stewards of Kangol, by spearheading the evolution of the brand and its DNA,” said Bollman CEO and Visionary Don Rongione. “We have meticulously set the bar for all other Kangol brand development worldwide. It will be exciting for us to be able to apply the same standards to developing and distributing additional categories globally.”
Headwear is the leading category that drives the creative direction and inspiration for all other categories of Kangol product, Bollman said. The sale will grant Bollman the rights to apply the same design and craftsmanship to Kangol’s full product portfolio.
Kangol, a British brand established in 1938, has long served as a leader in streetwear, known for its prominence across decades of fashion, music and pop culture.
Bollman said the label became iconic in the 1980s due to its adoption of hip hop culture and celebrity endorsements. Kangol’s street culture has been further cemented by its distinct design collaborations over the years, having joined forces with top brands such as Supreme, Kith, Junya Watanabe Homme, Mastermind, Stüssy, Alexander Wang, and Agnes b.
Frasers Group will continue to focus on retail distribution across their store portfolio, including House of Fraser, USC and Sports Direct.
