What Lock Hatters does

Lock & Co. Hatters is a London-based luxury hat retailer founded in 1676, recognized as the oldest hat shop in the world. It operates from a single flagship store at No. 6 St James's Street, London SW1A 1EF, supported by a global e-commerce store at lockhatters.com. The company holds a Royal Warrant of Appointment to King Charles III and describes itself as a small family business. Its product portfolio spans men's and women's hats across categories including flat caps, Bakerboy caps, fedoras, bowlers, top hats, Panama hats, boaters, berets, bucket hats, pillbox hats, headbands, and bridal headwear, with materials ranging from tweed, wool, cashmere, leather, and rabbit fur felt to handwoven Ecuadorian toquilla palm straw. Sub-brands include Lock Couture (designed by Awon Golding), the Highgrove Collection, the Fairbanks Collection, the Lock & Co. x 007 collaboration, the 350th Anniversary Collection, and Escorial Wool. The company offers bespoke made-to-measure services, including a conformateur fitting process for top hats and bowlers, with bespoke pricing reaching £5,829 for ultra-fine Montecristi Panama hats.

The business model is primarily direct-to-consumer through ready-to-wear hat sales, bespoke/made-to-measure commissions, limited edition and anniversary collections, hat care accessories (brushes, boxes, hat jacks), and gift cards. Pricing ranges from approximately £62.50 for entry-level items such as French berets to over £5,800 for bespoke ultra-fine Montecristi Panama hats, with most ready-to-wear hats priced between £150 and £500. Distribution channels include the London flagship store, a global e-commerce storefront with multi-currency support (GBP, USD, EUR), and event-driven retail presence at events such as Henley Royal Regatta, Grand National, Cheltenham, Kentucky Derby, and Wimbledon. Payment options include Klarna, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay, and major credit cards. The company has launched HAttIe Recommends, an AI-powered personal hat styling assistant trained with Master Hatter expertise to help customers select hats based on face shape and occasion.

Revenue is not disclosed and the company is privately held with no parent company, no funding rounds, and no public investor relations. Markets served include the UK, broader Europe, and the United States via global e-commerce. Strategic branding is reinforced through partnerships with the James Bond film franchise, the Highgrove Estate, and Ecuadorian Panama hat weavers. As of 2026, the company is celebrating its 350th anniversary with monthly limited-edition releases and special events.

Name

Lock Hatters

Legal name

Lock & Co. Hatters

Website

https://lockhatters.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lock & Co. Hatters is a London-based luxury hat retailer founded in 1676, operating a single flagship on St James's Street and global e-commerce, serving affluent consumers seeking ready-to-wear, bespoke, and limited-edition hats under a Royal Warrant.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Millinery Retail

NAICS

Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (458110), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (31599)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Hats, Caps & Headwear (CRAAAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury Hats & Headwear (CRAKAEAG), Headwear Manufacturing (Hats/Caps/Beanies) (IMAOAFAA)

Keywords

• Luxury hat retail
• Bespoke millinery
• Men's and women's hats
• Heritage hat shop
• Made-to-measure hats

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ready-to-Wear Hat Sales: Direct retail sales of men's and women's hats including fedoras, flat caps, Panama hats, bowler hats, and accessories through online and physical retail channels.
2. Bespoke/Made-to-Measure Hats: Custom-made hat services creating personalized hats tailored to individual customer specifications and measurements.
3. Limited Edition Collections: Premium limited edition and anniversary hats commanding higher price points, including 350th Anniversary Collection pieces.
4. Hat Accessories: Sale of hat care products including brushes, hat boxes, hat jacks, and polishing pads.
5. Gift Cards: Gift card program allowing customers to purchase gift vouchers for future hat purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lock & Co. Hatters is the world's oldest hat shop, founded in 1676, operating a flagship retail store on St James's Street in London and a global e-commerce site selling premium ready-to-wear and bespoke made-to-measure hats for men and women. The company also offers hat care accessories, gift cards, and an AI-powered personal styling assistant (HAttIe) trained by its Master Hatters.

Product overview

Lock & Co. Hatters operates as a single-brand luxury hat retailer offering an extensive portfolio of men's and women's hats across multiple categories. The core offering comprises ready-to-wear hats including Flat Caps, Bakerboy Caps, Fedoras, Trilbies, Panama Hats, Boaters, Baseball Caps, Bucket Hats, Beanies, Berets, Top Hats, Bowler Hats, and Sun Hats. The company provides specialized services including bespoke made-to-measure hats and the HAttIe Recommends AI-powered personal styling assistant. Key sub-brands and collections include Lock Couture by Awon Golding (high-end couture), The 350th Anniversary Collection (limited editions), The Highgrove Collection, The Fairbanks Collection, Escorial Wool Hats, and the Lock & Co. x 007 collaboration. The company also offers hat care accessories and gift cards. All products are characterized by heritage craftsmanship with hats hand-prepared in the London shop at No. 6 St James's Street.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lock Couture: High-end couture hat collection for women designed in collaboration with Awon Golding
• 350th Anniversary Collection
• The Fairbanks Collection
• The Highgrove Collection
• Escorial Wool Hats
• Lock & Co. x 007

Products and services

• Men's Hat Collection Complete range of men's luxury hats including flat caps, Bakerboy caps, fedoras, Panama hats, trilbies, boaters, baseball caps, beanies, top hats, bowler hats, and more, precision-cut, meticulously blocked, and hand-finished for individual consumers.
• Women's Hat Collection Comprehensive women's hat collection featuring fedoras, trilbies, cloches, bucket hats, berets, beanies, caps, panamas, sun hats, wedding hats, pillbox hats, headbands, and headpieces for individual consumers.
• Panama Hats Iconic Panama hats made from finest straw, traditionally handwoven in Ecuador, available in various styles including Wide Brim, Classic, Superfino Montecristi, and limited edition anniversary pieces.
• Bespoke & Made-to-Measure Hat Service Custom-made hat service creating personalized hats tailored to individual customer specifications and measurements, including Bespoke Ultra-Fine Montecristi Panama Hat and personalized hat fitting with heated monogramming for leather sweatbands.
• HAttIe Recommends (AI Personal Styler) AI-powered personal hat styling assistant trained with the expertise of Lock & Co.'s Master Hatters and Stylists to help customers select the perfect hat style for their face shape, preferences, and occasion.
• 350th Anniversary Collection Limited-edition hats and accessories celebrating Lock & Co.'s 350-year heritage, including The 350 Wide Brim Panama, The 350 Classic Boater, The 350 Peacehaven Panama, The 350 Gill Flat Cap, and The 350 Whitebridge Bakerboy Cap.
• Lock Couture by Awon Golding High-end couture hat collection for women designed in collaboration with designer Awon Golding, featuring exclusive designer pieces.
• The Highgrove Collection Exclusive estate-inspired hats created in collaboration with the Highgrove Estate, including The Highgrove Garden Panama Hat and The King's Rose Panama Hat.
• Lock & Co. x 007 Collection James Bond-inspired limited edition hats including The Sixty Bakerboy Cap, created through collaboration with the James Bond Film Franchise.
• Wedding & Bridal Collection Wedding hats and bridal accessories including mother of the bride styles, occasion hats, and coordinating pieces for weddings and formal ceremonies.
• Hat Accessories Hat care and storage accessories including Hard/Soft Bristle Hat Brush, Hat Box, Hat Jack, Velvet Polishing Pad, Leather Top Hat Bucket, Canvas Tube, and Hat Tube.
• Gift Cards Digital gift cards available for purchase in various denominations for future hat purchases.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350 years of continuous operation as oldest hat shop in the world

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Ecuadorian Panama Hat WeaverscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraditional handwoven Panama hats are sourced from skilled weavers in Ecuador, maintaining authentic craftsmanship and supporting traditional artisan communities.
• James Bond Film FranchiseflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLock & Co. x 007 collaboration creating limited edition James Bond-themed hats and accessories, leveraging the iconic film franchise heritage.
• The Prince of Wales / Highgrove EstateflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Highgrove Collection - exclusive hats designed in collaboration with the Highgrove Estate, featuring the Highgrove Garden Panama Hat and other estate-inspired pieces.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Stetson: Stetson is an American heritage headwear brand (founded 1865) producing cowboy hats, fedoras, and outdoor hats. Comparable as a heritage-led hat maker operating at scale across retail and DTC, with a similar mix of craftsmanship narrative and broad product line.
• Borsalino: Borsalino is an Italian heritage hat maker known for felt fedoras, panamas, and luxury headwear with similar craftsmanship-led positioning. Comparable on product category, premium pricing, and heritage-driven brand equity in the luxury hat segment.
• Philip Treacy: Philip Treacy is an Irish luxury milliner famous for couture hats worn by royals and celebrities. Comparable on the ultra-premium couture hat line, Royal/celebrity clientele, and bespoke/occasion-driven demand profile.
• Christys' of London: Christys' is a long-established London hat maker (founded 1773) producing felt hats, top hats, and formal headwear for retail and wholesale. It is the closest direct heritage peer to Lock & Co. in terms of category, craft heritage, and customer base.
• Tilley Endurables: Tilley is a Canadian heritage hat brand focused on travel and outdoor hats with strong DTC e-commerce. Comparable as a multi-channel DTC hat retailer with craftsmanship narrative, lifetime guarantees, and similar accessory bundling.
• Bates Hats: Bates is a long-established British hat maker and retailer producing formal hats including top hats, bowlers, and military headwear. Comparable as a UK heritage headwear specialist with overlapping product range and similar bespoke/craft service model.

Broad incumbents

• New Era Cap: New Era is a global headwear incumbent best known for baseball caps and licensed sports hats. Comparable as a large-scale headwear company in the same broad category but with a mass-market, sports-licensed go-to-market that is very different from Lock & Co.'s heritage luxury approach.
• Kangol: Kangol is a heritage headwear brand (founded 1938) known for caps, berets, and casual hats with broad distribution. Comparable on heritage branding and hat category but operates at much larger scale in mass-premium and streetwear rather than the formal luxury niche.

Others

• J. Barbour (Barbour): Barbour is a British heritage countrywear brand selling waxed jackets, knitwear, and accessories through DTC and wholesale. Comparable as a UK heritage brand with Royal Warrants, premium pricing, and a similar 'countryside/formal occasion' customer base, though it is a broader apparel rather than headwear specialist.

Regional players

• Akubra: Akubra is an Australian heritage hat maker producing fur felt hats with strong national brand recognition. Comparable on heritage craftsmanship and traditional hat category, but primarily serves the Australian market rather than the UK/global luxury segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lockhatters
• Facebookfacebook.com/lockhatters

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lock Hatters