Kangol
Frasers Group · United Kingdom
Kangol is a British headwear brand founded by Jacques Spreiregen and established under the Kangol name in Cleator, Cumbria in 1938. Owned by Frasers Group since 2006, its hats are produced under licence by the American hatmaker Bollman Hat Company. Kangol's berets and caps became icons of 1980s hip hop and remain a staple of streetwear.
| Founded | 1938, Cleator, Cumbria |
|---|---|
| Founder | Jacques Spreiregen |
| Owner | Frasers Group (since 2006) |
| Hat licensee | Bollman Hat Company (since 2002) |
| Logo | Kangaroo, adopted 1983 |
| Website | kangol.com |
What is Kangol?
Kangol is a headwear brand best known for berets, flat caps, bucket hats and its kangaroo logo. Its styles, including the 504 and 507 caps and the Tropic and Bermuda fabric collections, are worn across fashion, sport and music, and the name is also used on apparel.
History
Founder Jacques Spreiregen, born in Warsaw, entered the headwear business after the First World War as an importer of Basque berets. In 1938 he created the Kangol name and opened the first factory in Cleator, Cumbria. The company supplied berets to the British Army in the Second World War and outfitted the British team at the 1948 Olympic Games. It introduced the Carricap in 1954, gained rights to make Beatles-branded headwear in 1964 and adopted the kangaroo logo in 1983 after American customers began asking for the kangaroo hats.
Products and positioning
Kangol occupies the mid-market. Its cultural reach is larger than its size suggests, thanks to associations with:
- 1980s hip hop artists such as LL Cool J, Run-DMC and The Notorious B.I.G.
- Film, including New Jack City (1991) and actor Samuel L. Jackson
- Earlier links to golf, the military and the Scout Association
Business model and distribution
Kangol operates largely through licensing. According to Wikipedia, Frasers Group (formerly Sports Direct) has owned the brand since 2006, when it bought it from private equity fund August Equity Trust. The global rights to Kangol hats have been held by the Bollman Hat Company since 2002, and the brand's US website states that the trademarks are used under licence. Products are sold online and through retail partners.
Why it matters
Kangol is a textbook example of a heritage brand kept relevant through culture rather than advertising. Its licensing-led structure, with brand ownership and product manufacturing held by different companies, is also a common model for legacy names in the portfolios of retail groups.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Kangol?
Kangol has been owned by Frasers Group, formerly Sports Direct, since 2006. Its hats are made and distributed under licence by the American Bollman Hat Company, which has held the global headwear rights since 2002.
Where is Kangol from?
Kangol is a British brand. The name was created in 1938, when founder Jacques Spreiregen opened the first factory in Cleator, Cumbria, in north-west England.