Menswear
Formal British-Made Men's Hats and Headwear — Voted by the Community
This directory lists 11 brands that make formal men's hats in the UK. They are most often based in London and Hertfordshire. Prices run from premium to luxury. Ranked by community upvotes.
Laird Hatters
Laird Hatters handcrafts distinctive hats and caps for men and women, using the finest British fabrics. Founded in 2009, they offer bespoke services and showcase at London Fashion Week.
- Classic
- Contemporary
- Country
Shop to visit- Classic
- Contemporary
- Country
Phoebe English
Clothing made in England attempting a variety of solutions towards less extractive fashion systems. Est 2011.
- Bridal
- Casual
- Classic
Shop to visit- Bridal
- Casual
- Classic
See these brands on the map32 places from 11 brands, 22 of them shops you can visit.Open the map
Christys’ Hats
Christys’ Hats has been manufacturing fine hats in England since 1773, blending centuries of craftsmanship with royal heritage and traditional British millinery.
- Classic
- Formal
- Vintage
- Classic
- Formal
- Vintage
Turnbull & Asser
Turnbull & Asser is a distinguished British shirtmaker founded in 1885, renowned for timeless style, exceptional quality, and sartorial elegance.
- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Shop to visit- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Budd Shirts
Budd Shirts, founded in 1910, is a cornerstone of British menswear, renowned for bespoke and ready-to-wear shirts, ties, and accessories.
- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Shop to visit- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
- Henry Poole
Henry Poole
Henry Poole, founded in 1806, is a British tailor credited with inventing the tuxedo and establishing Savile Row’s bespoke tailoring tradition.
- Formal
- Heritage
Shop to visit- Formal
- Heritage
Swaine
Swaine is a British heritage brand established in 1750, renowned for handcrafted luxury leather goods and accessories, serving royalty and discerning clients for centuries.
- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Shop to visit- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Barrington Ayre
Barrington Ayre is a British bespoke shirtmaker and tailor founded in 2010 in Cirencester, offering personalised tailoring in a relaxed showroom with a full UK travelling service.
- Formal
Shop to visit- Formal
Ede & Ravenscroft
Ede & Ravenscroft, established in 1689, is London’s oldest tailor, specialising in bespoke tailoring, ceremonial robes, legal attire, and ready-to-wear menswear with traditional British craftsmanship.
- Classic
- Formal
- Vintage
Shop to visit- Classic
- Formal
- Vintage
Herring Shoes
Herring Shoes offers expertly crafted footwear through partnerships with renowned Northampton manufacturers, ensuring exceptional British craftsmanship since 1966.
- Classic
- Formal
- Classic
- Formal
Lock & Co. Hatters
Lock & Co. Hatters is the world's oldest hat shop, established in 1676. Renowned for timeless style and exceptional craftsmanship, trusted by iconic figures throughout history.
- Classic
- Formal
- Vintage
Shop to visit- Classic
- Formal
- Vintage
Shops run by brands that make formal men's hats
9 of the 11 brands that make formal men's hats have a shop you can visit: 8 in London, others in Cambridge, Oxford, Cirencester and 1 other town.
This independent directory lists UK-made clothing brands, and marks those that make only some items here.Why choose British-made?
A Brief History of British Made Hats
Hats and caps have been a visible and practical part of British dress for centuries. One of the most lasting British styles is the flat cap, a soft cap with a small stiff brim. Its roots go back to the sixteenth century: a 1571 Act of Parliament, meant to support the wool trade, required men and boys over six to wear a woollen cap on Sundays and holidays. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries flat caps were worn across Britain, by working men every day and, in finer cloths, by wealthier men in the country. The bowler hat was made in London in 1849 by the hatmakers Thomas and William Bowler, as a hard, low hat for gamekeepers whose tall hats were knocked off by branches. First popular with working men, it became the typical hat of City of London businessmen in the early 1900s and stayed so until the 1970s. The newsboy cap, similar to the flat cap but with a fuller crown made of panels and a button on top, was widely worn in the early twentieth century. British hat makers today continue to draw on these traditions, using good materials and careful construction.