Central Pa. ESOP manufacturer launches handcrafted collection

Adamstown‘s Bollman Hat Company, America’s oldest hat manufacturer and an employee-owned company, announced the expansion of its Makers’ Collection. 

According to a release, the collection is an exclusive line of handcrafted hats that “honors the artisans who have dedicated their careers to American manufacturing.” The limited-edition collection is available for brands, retailers, and corporations seeking authentic American-made products. 

The initiative aims to preserve the historic Adamstown factory, America’s oldest hat manufacturing facility. Per the release, production demand has declined to 23% of the company’s global sales, down from 100% in the 1970s when the factory produced twenty times more than it does today. 

“There’s something profound about working with your hands to create quality products that people wear with pride,” Don Rongione, president and CEO of Bollman Hat Company, said in a statement. “The Makers’ Collection allows us to celebrate the employee-owners who have made Bollman their life’s work while inviting new partners to join us in building the future of American manufacturing.” 

Bollman Hat Company was founded in 1868 by George Bollman in a former whiskey distillery on Main Street in Adamstown in Lancaster County. The Bollman factory was recognized recently as the 19th-oldest continuously operating consumer products maker in America. Through its 100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Bollman has 17 employee-owners who have worked at the company for 50 years, with hundreds more achieving 40 years of service. 

Bollman founded American Made Matters in 2009 to educate consumers on the importance of buying American-made products. The Makers’ Collection offers consumers and brands an opportunity to invest in American manufacturing. 

The Makers’ Collection hat undergoes an average of 60 individual touchpoints. Each style is named after an employee-owner who has contributed at least 35 years of service to the company. Every hat is lined with a photo of the factory taken in the 1870s and includes a certificate of authenticity signed by current employee-owners. While Bollman has expanded its global brand portfolio, this collection creates specific, sustainable demand that keeps American craftspeople employed. 

Bollman Hat Company has 240 employees located on four continents and distributes products in over 70 countries.