Christy's London

What Christy's London does

Christy's London is a heritage British hatmaker founded in 1773, currently operated under Laird Hatters following the 2026 acquisition of the brand after the prior owner, Christy & Co., entered liquidation. The company manufactures handcrafted hats and caps — including fedoras, trilbies, top hats, bowlers, Panama hats, flat caps, bakerboy caps, boaters, and tweed caps — using traditional millinery techniques maintained since the 18th century. Core inputs include wool, rabbit, and beaver fur felts sourced from Portugal, toquilla straw from Ecuador for Panamas, and tweed fabrics from UK heritage mills (Abraham Moon, Lovat Mill, Harris Tweed, Mallalieus, Brisbane Moss). Production is hand-finished in Laird Hatters' London and Hertfordshire workshops.

The company's revenue model is direct-to-consumer e-commerce (christys-hats.com) shipping to 130+ countries, supplemented by a wholesale trade channel and historic distribution through Harrods and Liberty London. Products range from £15 entry-level cotton caps to £450 premium beaver fur fedoras, with mid-market flat caps and bakerboy caps (£49-£115) and wool felt hats (£135-£195) as the core offering. Customer segments include heritage/luxury-focused consumers, racing and country sports enthusiasts, Peaky Blinders pop-culture fans (via the limited-edition Thomas Original cap), and wholesale trade buyers. The brand monetizes its 253-year heritage, cultural associations (Prince Albert, The Godfather, Peaky Blinders), and British craftsmanship provenance as primary differentiation.

Recent activity is focused on relaunch and stabilization under new ownership: the brand has launched new Panama hat styles (Sorrento, Elba, Ibiza), the Windsor Shetland wool cap, and a refreshed seasonal collection framework. The strategic priority articulated by Laird Hatters is to re-establish Christy's as a 'Made in London, England' brand, leveraging the parent's 7-store retail footprint across Oxford, Cambridge, and London while keeping the two brands' product lines distinct.

Name

Christy's London

Legal name

Christy & Co. Ltd

Website

https://christys-hats.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1773

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Christy's London is a 253-year-old British heritage hatmaker, acquired by Laird Hatters in 2026, that handcrafts fedoras, trilbies, bowlers, Panama hats, and caps from premium wool, fur, and tweed for heritage consumers, racing enthusiasts, and international wholesale buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage Headwear

NAICS

Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (31599), Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (458110), Apparel Manufacturing (315)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

Headwear Manufacturing (Hats/Caps/Beanies) (IMAOAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hats, Caps & Headwear (CRAAAJAE), Luxury Hats & Headwear (CRAKAEAG), Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers (CRAAAAAI), Cold-Weather Accessories Manufacturing (Thermal Sets/Arm & Leg Warmers) (IMAOAFAJ)

Keywords

• Heritage headwear
• British millinery
• Wool felt hats
• Premium hats
• Made in England

Headquarters

HQ city

Witney

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Hat and Cap Sales: Christy's London generates revenue through direct-to-consumer sales of handcrafted hats and caps via its e-commerce platform (christys-hats.com). Products are sold as one-time purchases across multiple price points from entry-level to luxury. The company also sells accessories (hat boxes, gift cards) and offers a wholesale channel for trade buyers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Christy's London is a heritage British hatmaker (founded 1773) that designs, manufactures, and sells handcrafted hats, caps, and headwear accessories through its own e-commerce store and department store partners. The product range spans fedoras, trilbies, panamas, top hats, bowlers, boaters, flat caps, bakerboy caps, baseball caps, and tweed caps, plus curated collections for weddings, racing, and licensed cultural icons such as the Peaky Blinders collection. Materials include beaver fur, wool, cashmere, Harris Tweed, and leather, with all production carried out at the Standfield Hatworks factory in Hertfordshire using traditional British millinery techniques.

Product overview

Christys' London is a heritage British hatmaker founded in 1773, now operated by Laird Hatters after acquiring the brand in 2025. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of headwear products organized into two main categories: Hats (including Fedora, Trilby, Top Hats & Bowlers, Panama, Boater, and Foldable styles) and Caps (including Flat Caps, Bakerboy Caps, Baseball Caps, Tweed Caps, and Cashmere & Melton Wool Caps). The product line also includes curated seasonal collections such as Wedding, Racing, Cultural Icons, and Autumn/Winter collections, plus accessories like hat boxes and gift cards. The Made in England collection represents the core offering, with felt hats crafted from Portuguese wool/rabbit/beaver fur and Panama hats from Ecuadorian toquilla straw, all hand-finished in the company's Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire workshops. Signature sub-brand products include the limited edition Thomas Original Harris Tweed cap associated with Peaky Blinders, the Crushable Safari travel hat, Cashmere Balmoral Cap, and various heritage styles like the Bourton Wool Felt Trilby.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fedora Hats Classic fedora hats handcrafted from premium materials such as beaver fur, wool, and cashmere, sold to individual consumers seeking timeless British heritage headwear.
• Trilby Hats Traditional trilby hats made from wool, fur felt, and Panama materials, marketed to individual consumers for everyday and smart-casual wear.
• Top Hats Formal top hats crafted from silk, beaver fur, and wool felt, designed for weddings, Ascot, and black-tie occasions.
• Bowler Hats Classic bowler hats in fur felt, marketed to individual consumers seeking iconic British formal and heritage headwear.
• Panama Hats Hand-woven Panama hats marketed for summer and occasion wear, including formal Panama top hats for racing events.
• Boater Hats Traditional straw boater hats for formal summer occasions such as regattas and Henley.
• Foldable / Crushable Safari Hats Packable, crushable hats designed for travel and outdoor use, including the Safari model in the current collection.
• Flat Caps Traditional British flat caps in wool, tweed, and leather, sold to individual consumers for everyday heritage wear.
• Bakerboy Caps Newsboy/bakerboy caps in wool, tweed, and cashmere, marketed to individual consumers for casual and heritage styling.
• Baseball Caps Heritage-style baseball caps in wool, cotton, and leather, sold to individual consumers seeking casual British-made headwear.
• Harris Tweed Caps Caps made from genuine Harris Tweed, marketed to individual consumers seeking premium Scottish-tweed heritage headwear.
• Cashmere and Melton Wool Caps Premium caps in cashmere and Melton wool, including eight-piece Bakerboy caps, sold to individual consumers seeking luxury winter headwear.
• Wedding Collection Curated collection of wedding-appropriate headwear, including bridal headpieces, fascinators, and formal hats for guests and grooms.
• Racing Collection Curated collection of formal race-day headwear designed for Royal Ascot, Henley Royal Regatta, and other British racing and regatta events.
• Peaky Blinders Collection Officially licensed Peaky Blinders replica headwear collection, sold to fans and collectors of the BBC series through ChristysLondon.com.
• Balmoral Collection Multi-piece Balmoral collection featuring the Balmoral cap and Tam o'Shanter, sold to individual consumers seeking Scottish heritage headwear.
• Bourton Collection Six-piece Bourton collection of tweed and felt flat caps sold to individual consumers seeking classic British countryside styling.
• Hat Accessories (Hat Boxes, Beanies, Scarves, Gloves) Complementary accessories including hat boxes, beanies, scarves, and gloves, sold to individual consumers alongside hats.
• Regimental Headwear (Balmoral, Bombé, Home Service Helmets) Historical and ceremonial regimental headwear including Balmoral, Bombé, and Home Service helmets, supplied to British military regiments and ceremonial institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 250 years of continuous hatmaking heritage (founded 1773)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Laird HatterscoreOthers · 1 January 2026In 2026, Laird Hatters (a family-run British hatmaking business) acquired Christy's London following the liquidation of Christy & Co. Laird Hatters brought Christy's production back to London and Hertfordshire workshops. The acquisition aims to re-establish Christy's as a 'Made in London, England' brand. Laird Hatters is owned and operated by Alex and Zofia Torun-Shaw, with their daughter Daisy joining in 2023. The brands are kept separate with distinct product lines.
• Abraham Moon & SonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbraham Moon & Sons is a historic Yorkshire wool mill. Christy's sources premium wool fabrics from Abraham Moon for caps in their Made in England collection. The 'Windsor' cap is made from Shetland Wool woven by Abraham Moons in Yorkshire. The partnership is central to Christy's British heritage positioning.
• Lovat MillcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLovat Mill is a Scottish mill producing specialist tweeds. Christy's sources tweed fabrics from Lovat Mill for the Made in England cap collection, contributing to the brand's heritage material story and British craftsmanship positioning.
• Harris Tweed AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Harris Tweed Authority is the governing body for Harris Tweed — the only cloth in the world protected by its own Act of Parliament, handwoven by islanders in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Christy's uses Orb-certified Harris Tweed for premium caps, including the Thomas Original Limited Edition. Harris Tweed is a key material differentiator for Christy's heritage caps.
• Mallalieus of DelphminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMallalieus of Delph is a historic British textile mill. Christy's uses fabrics from this mill as part of its commitment to championing British textile mills and traditional materials in the Made in England collection.
• Brisbane MossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrisbane Moss is renowned for producing some of the world's finest corduroy fabrics. Christy's uses Brisbane Moss 8-wale heavy corduroy for the Bedford 8-panel bakerboy cap, combining heritage design with premium materials.
• Liberty LondoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLiberty London acquired Christy & Co and Compton Webb in 2011, helping to introduce the brand to a new wave of style-conscious hat wearers. Liberty has featured Christy's in collaborations with British brands such as Paul Smith and Margaret Howell, expanding Christy's reach into fashion-conscious consumer segments.
• Paul SmithminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaul Smith collaborated with Christy's as part of the brand's post-2011 repositioning under Liberty ownership, bringing Christy's heritage craftsmanship to a fashion-forward audience through brand collaboration.
• Margaret HowellminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMargaret Howell partnered with Christy's following the 2011 Liberty acquisition, contributing to collaborations with great British brands that expanded Christy's reach to design-conscious consumers.
• HarrodsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHarrods department store sold a special 240th anniversary edition fedora hat in 2013 when Christy's celebrated 240 years since foundation. Harrods continues to carry Christy's as a prestige retail partner in the UK luxury market.
• Ascot RacecourseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAscot License began producing exclusive headwear pieces for Ascot Racecourse from 2017, creating licensed Christy's headwear for this iconic British racing event. This partnership positions Christy's within the premium racing and country sports market.
• BBCcoreOthersThe BBC came to Christy's London when the production needed caps fit for the Shelby family in the TV series Peaky Blinders. Christy's handcrafted the caps worn on screen throughout the series, which launched a global obsession with the bakerboy cap silhouette. Christy's marketed itself as 'Makers of the Original Peaky Blinders Caps'. The brand continues to leverage this association with limited-edition collector's pieces.
• Compton Webb (CW Headress)minorOthersCompton Webb (J Compton Sons and Webb) was Christy's historic sister company, sharing manufacturing operations in Witney, Oxfordshire from the 1990s. CW Headress was sold off separately in 2024, moving to Liverpool, splitting the original Christy & Co company before its subsequent liquidation. No active partnership under current ownership.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lock & Co Hatters: London's oldest hat shop (founded 1676), directly comparable as a British heritage headwear specialist offering fedoras, bowlers, and Panama hats at premium prices through both retail and DTC channels. Both brands compete for the same heritage-conscious luxury hat buyer.
• Olney Hats: British bespoke and off-the-shelf hat maker producing Panama, felt, and racing headwear. Direct peer in the UK heritage hat category, with comparable product range and target customer base.
• Akubra: Australian heritage hatmaker (founded 1874) producing premium felt hats and outdoor headwear. Comparable as a long-established heritage brand built on quality craftsmanship, premium materials (rabbit fur felt), and national cultural identity.
• Taylor of Old Bond Street (Tobs) / Failsworth Hats: British heritage hatmaker Failsworth (founded 1890s) producing flat caps, trilbies, and formal headwear. Direct competitor in the British-made heritage cap and hat category, with similar product overlap and target customer.
• Borsalino: Italian luxury hatmaker (founded 1857) producing felt hats, fedoras, and Panama hats. Comparable as a heritage European headwear brand with premium positioning, manufacturing expertise, and global luxury distribution — Borsalino also experienced insolvency and was acquired by a luxury investor in 2017.

Broad incumbents

• Stetson: Iconic American hat brand (founded 1865) producing Western, felt, and fashion headwear globally. Comparable as a heritage hat brand with multi-century legacy, broad product line spanning casual and dress categories, and global distribution.
• New Era Cap: Global headwear company (founded 1920) specializing in caps with massive scale and licensing partnerships. Comparable as a headwear-led brand with global distribution, though focused on caps and sports licensing rather than heritage formal hats.
• Kangol: British heritage headwear brand (founded 1938) famous for the flat cap and bakerboy silhouettes. Comparable as a British heritage cap brand with strong cultural associations (hip-hop, Britpop) and headwear-led product portfolio.

Emerging players

• Hicks & Brown: British country and tweed hat brand producing waxed cotton and wool headwear. Comparable as a contemporary British heritage country hat brand targeting similar rural sporting and racing occasion customers.
• Goorin Bros: American heritage-inspired hat brand (founded 1895) offering caps, fedoras, and fashion headwear. Comparable as a heritage-positioned hat brand targeting style-conscious consumers with both retail and DTC channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ChristysHats
• Xx.com/christyshats

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Christy's London