Famous Hat Brands — Makers Worth Knowing

Famous Hat Brands

A guide to the hat makers that matter — from centuries-old heritage houses to modern brands reviving hat culture. Organised by tier and style focus.

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Heritage Luxury

Lock & Co. Hatters (est. 1676, London)

The world's oldest hat shop, on St James's Street since the reign of Charles II. Lock's designed the original bowler hat in 1849 (made by Thomas and William Bowler to Lock's specification for their client Edward Coke). They still make hats by hand.

• Known for: Bowlers, top hats, felt hats, Panamas, bespoke
• Price range: £150–1,500+
• Worth it for: A genuine piece of hat history. Their fitting room experience is remarkable — sizes measured with a wooden conformateur that hasn't changed in centuries

Borsalino (est. 1857, Alessandria, Italy)

The Italian master of fur felt. Borsalino hats were worn by Humphrey Bogart, Al Capone, and Johnny Depp. The brand survived near-closure in 2017 and continues under new ownership.

• Known for: Fedoras, wide-brim hats, Panamas
• Price range: £200–800
• Worth it for: The finest machine-made fur felt. The hand-feel of a Borsalino fedora is unmistakable — smooth, dense, and perfectly shaped

Stetson (est. 1865, Philadelphia, USA)

John B. Stetson created the "Boss of the Plains" — the original cowboy hat. The brand defines American headwear and still produces both affordable and premium lines.

• Known for: Western hats, fedoras, flat caps, outdoor hats
• Price range: £60–600
• Worth it for: Western hats especially. The "X" system rates felt quality: 4X (wool blend) to 1000X (pure beaver, hand-finished). A Stetson 100X is a serious investment and a lifetime hat

Christys' (est. 1773, London/Oxfordshire)

Britain's foremost hat manufacturer. Christys' supplied top hats for the British government and still makes hats for brands worldwide. Their own-label range is superb value.

• Known for: Panamas, fedoras, flat caps, top hats
• Price range: £60–350
• Worth it for: Excellent quality-to-price ratio on Panamas and wool felt. Their Classic Preset Panama is one of the best sub-£100 straw hats available

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Premium / Contemporary

Bailey of Hollywood (est. 1922, Los Angeles)

Started making hats for Hollywood studios. Now produces a wide range of classic and contemporary styles with consistent quality.

• Known for: Fedoras, flat caps, Panamas, newsboys
• Price range: £50–200
• Worth it for: Reliable quality across a broad range. Good entry point into proper hats

Kangol (est. 1938, Cleator, England)

Originally a beret manufacturer for the British military. Became a street style icon in the 1980s through hip-hop culture (LL Cool J, Slick Rick, Grandmaster Flash).

• Known for: Berets, bucket hats, flat caps, 504 (a modern flat cap)
• Price range: £30–100
• Worth it for: The 504 Ventair (perforated flat cap) is a modern classic. Excellent casual hats with genuine heritage

Barbour (est. 1894, South Shields, England)

Primarily a waxed-cotton outerwear brand, but their hats are a natural extension — functional, weather-resistant, and quintessentially British country.

• Known for: Waxed cotton bush hats, tweed flat caps, waterproof hats
• Price range: £30–80
• Worth it for: Foul-weather headwear. The Barbour Wax Sports Hat is practically the uniform of the British countryside

Akubra (est. 1874, Sydney, Australia)

The Australian equivalent of Stetson. Made from rabbit fur felt, shaped for the Australian outback. Tough, practical, and iconic.

• Known for: Bush hats, wide-brim outback hats
• Price range: £80–200
• Worth it for: If you need a hat that'll survive real weather and real work. The Cattleman is the classic model

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Accessible / Everyday

Brixton (est. 2004, Oceanside, California)

A surf-culture brand that makes surprisingly good hats. Modern fits, contemporary styling, and accessible prices have made them hugely popular.

• Known for: Fedoras, flat caps, bucket hats, beanies
• Price range: £30–90
• Worth it for: Best value in the mid-range. The Fiddler fisherman cap and Messer fedora are modern bestsellers with genuine style

Goorin Bros. (est. 1895, Pittsburgh, USA)

Heritage brand revived for a modern audience. Their animal-patch trucker caps went viral on TikTok, but the felt hat range is where the real quality lies.

• Known for: Trucker caps, fedoras, flat caps
• Price range: £25–150
• Worth it for: Fun, personality-driven designs with enough quality to last

New Era (est. 1920, Buffalo, New York)

The official supplier of MLB caps and the dominant baseball cap brand worldwide. If you own a fitted cap, it's probably a New Era.

• Known for: Baseball caps (59FIFTY fitted, 9FORTY adjustable, 9FIFTY snapback)
• Price range: £20–45
• Worth it for: The 59FIFTY is the gold standard of fitted baseball caps. Proper wool blend, structured crown, flat brim

Tilley (est. 1980, Toronto, Canada)

Adventure and travel hats with famously generous guarantees. Tilley hats are designed to be worn in extreme conditions and come with a lifetime warranty.

• Known for: Wide-brim sun hats, outdoor hats
• Price range: £50–100
• Worth it for: If function matters more than fashion. The T1 Iconic is virtually indestructible and floats in water

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Specialist / Bespoke

Optimo Hats (Chicago, USA)

One of the last remaining custom hat-making shops in America. Graham Thompson produces handmade hats using vintage equipment and traditional methods.

• Known for: Custom fedoras, western hats, vintage restoration
• Price range: £300–1,000+
• Worth it for: A truly bespoke hat, fitted to your head with period-correct techniques

Worth & Worth (New York, USA)

A custom hat atelier producing modern American classics. Each hat is made to order with personal fitting.

• Known for: Custom fedoras, Panamas, western hats
• Price range: £250–800
• Worth it for: If you want a hat designed specifically for your face, head, and style

Philip Treacy (London/Dublin)

The most famous milliner alive. Treacy's creations are art — sculptural, avant-garde, and regularly seen at Royal Ascot and celebrity events.

• Known for: Haute couture fascinators and statement hats
• Price range: £500–10,000+
• Worth it for: Special occasions where the hat IS the outfit

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Brand Comparison

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