Bates Hats
Bates Hats is a 125-year-old London heritage hatmaker, operating as a sub-brand of Hilditch & Key. It retails traditional formal hats and casual caps through a Jermyn Street flagship and the Hilditch & Key e-commerce platform, targeting affluent gentlemen seeking authentic British craftsmanship.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1898
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Bates Hats does
Bates Hats (also traded as Bates Hatters) is a London-based heritage hatmaker founded in 1898, operating as a sub-brand within the Hilditch & Key menswear platform (est. 1899). The business retails traditional formal hats (Fedoras, Trilbies, Panamas, Homburgs, Bowlers, Top Hats) and casual caps (Flat Caps, Gatsby, Roma, Toni, Harlem, Baseball Caps) to affluent male customers seeking formal-occasion and country-pursuits headwear with documented British provenance. The underlying production model relies on traditional hatmaking craftsmanship rather than any patented or proprietary technology, with no disclosed AI, software platform, or API surface; revenue is generated through one-time unit sales of premium-priced hats and caps.
Distribution is direct-to-consumer via two channels: a single flagship retail location at 73 Jermyn Street, London, and the Hilditch & Key-owned e-commerce storefront at hilditchandkey.co.uk, which is built on Shopify and supports international shipping via DHL, multi-currency checkout across dozens of markets, and payment options including Shopify Payments, Amex, PayPal, and Klarna. Marketing is concentrated in an owned editorial property ("The Journal") and earned media coverage in Vogue, GQ, The Telegraph, The Guardian, and Mayfair Times.
The commercial footprint extends beyond hats through curated sister collaborations on the same platform: Ettinger (leather goods), Longmire (cufflinks), and Sanders (footwear). The company serves both UK and US customers as named geographies, and supports a promotional calendar that includes seasonal sales of up to 40-50% off and an archive clearance channel. No funding, M&A, leadership, or revenue disclosures are present in source data; headcount stands at 12 employees.
Bates Hats firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bates Hats
- Legal name
- Bates Hats
- Website
- https://bates-hats.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1898
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bates Hats is a 125-year-old London heritage hatmaker, operating as a sub-brand of Hilditch & Key. It retails traditional formal hats and casual caps through a Jermyn Street flagship and the Hilditch & Key e-commerce platform, targeting affluent gentlemen seeking authentic British craftsmanship.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bates Hats industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Headwear and Traditional Hatmaking
- NAICS
- Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (45811)
- SIC
- Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hats, Caps & Headwear (CRAAAJAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Luxury Hats & Headwear (CRAKAEAG)
Keywords
Where Bates Hats is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bates Hats business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Luxury Hat Sales: One-time product sales of premium hats and caps, including formal hats (Fedoras, Trilbies, Panamas, Homburgs, Bowlers, Top Hats) and casual caps (Flat Caps, Gatsby, Roma, Toni, Harlem, Baseball). Revenue generated through direct retail and e-commerce channels.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Luxury formal hats and caps at premium price points |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Bates Hats product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bates Hats is a London heritage hatmaker established in 1898, producing and selling formal hats (Fedoras, Trilbies, Panamas, Homburgs, Bowlers, Top Hats) and casual caps (Flat Caps, Gatsby, Roma, Toni, Harlem, Baseball Caps). The brand retails through the Hilditch & Key Jermyn Street flagship store in London and the Hilditch & Key e-commerce platform with international shipping via DHL, targeting discerning gentlemen seeking traditional British craftsmanship.
Product overview
Bates Hats operates as a historic hatmaking sub-brand under Hilditch & Key, a London menswear house established in 1899. The company offers a unified collection of luxury menswear rather than a modular platform. Bates Hatters provides formal hats (Fedoras, Trilbies, Panamas, Homburgs, Bowlers, Top Hats) and caps, while Hilditch & Key's core products include meticulously tailored shirts, ties, accessories, knitwear, tailoring, and sleepwear. The brand also features curated collaborations with partners such as Ettinger, Longmire, and Sanders. Products are available through the online store and the Jermyn Street flagship location, with made-to-measure services offered.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bates Hatters Formal Hats Traditional formal headwear collection including Fedoras, Trilbies, Panamas, Homburgs, Bowlers, and Top Hats, crafted for discerning gentlemen seeking authentic British formal headwear for occasions such as weddings, races, and ceremonial events.
- Bates Hatters Caps Casual and sporty cap styles including Flat Caps, Gatsby, Roma, Toni, Harlem, and Baseball Caps, designed for everyday wear and country pursuits by male customers.
Companies that use Bates Hats
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Bates Hats technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Bates Hats partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- DHLminorLogistics partnership for international shipping services. DHL offers fast and secure US delivery with returns available on all orders. UK customers receive free returns; international customers pay a small fee.
- EttingerminorThe Ettinger Collection features collaborative leather goods including wallets, card cases, passport cases, and travel accessories sold through the Hilditch & Key platform.
- LongmireminorThe Longmire Collection features collaborative cufflinks sold through the Hilditch & Key platform.
- SandersminorThe Sanders Collection features collaborative footwear sold through the Hilditch & Key platform.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Bates Hats competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Ettinger: British luxury leather goods maker holding a Royal Warrant, partnering with Hilditch & Key/Bates via a curated collection on the shared storefront. Comparable as a heritage British accessories brand targeting the same affluent gentleman customer through overlapping retail and gifting channels.
- Hilditch & Key: The parent menswear platform under which Bates Hats operates, sharing the same Jermyn Street flagship and e-commerce storefront. Directly relevant because Bates' commercial success is intertwined with Hilditch & Key's broader shirt, tie and accessory business and platform infrastructure.
Direct peers
- Christys' Hats: British heritage hatmaker founded in 1773, producing Fedoras, Trilbies, Homburgs, Top Hats and Panama hats for retail and wholesale. Operates from a UK base with international wholesale distribution, serving the same formal and fashion headwear market as Bates.
- Herbert Johnson Hatters: London-based heritage hatter with a long history of supplying formal hats to British gentlemen. Sells Fedoras, Trilbies, Panamas and other classic styles online and through partner stockists, directly comparable to Bates' product mix and customer base.
- Lock & Co. Hatters: London-based historic hatter founded in 1676, the world's oldest. Sells formal hats (Fedoras, Trilbies, Panamas, Top Hats) and caps through its St James's Street flagship and e-commerce, targeting the same discerning gentleman customer as Bates. The closest direct competitor in heritage British luxury headwear.
- Optimo Hats: Chicago-based artisanal hatmaker specialising in custom and made-to-order Fedoras, Trilbies, Panamas and Western styles. Comparable to Bates as a heritage-style craft hatmaker serving connoisseur customers willing to pay premium prices for traditional headwear.
Broad incumbents
- Kangol: British heritage headwear brand famous for caps and Flat Caps, with global mass-market and streetwear distribution. Comparable to Bates as a British heritage hat brand with overlapping cap products, but operates at significantly larger scale and casual/streetwear positioning.
- Borsalino: Italian luxury hatmaker renowned for felt hats and Panamas, with global retail and wholesale distribution. Comparable to Bates on heritage Italian/European craftsmanship positioning and formal hat category, though operating across womenswear, accessories and broader luxury channels.
- Stetson: Iconic American heritage hat brand founded in 1865, offering a broad range of cowboy, outdoor, formal and fashion hats through extensive mass and specialty distribution. Comparable to Bates on heritage positioning and hat category, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader price points.
Emerging players
- Bailey of Hollywood: US heritage hat brand producing classic Fedoras, Trilbies and casual hats. Comparable to Bates as a heritage-positioned hat specialist with similar formal/casual product mix, though more focused on the American Western and casual end of the market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bates Hats social profiles
Digital presenceBates Hats financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bates Hats leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Bates Hats funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bates Hats M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bates Hats
What does Bates Hats do?
Bates Hats is a London heritage hatmaker established in 1898, producing and selling formal hats (Fedoras, Trilbies, Panamas, Homburgs, Bowlers, Top Hats) and casual caps (Flat Caps, Gatsby, Roma, Toni, Harlem, Baseball Caps). The brand retails through the Hilditch & Key Jermyn Street flagship store in London and the Hilditch & Key e-commerce platform with international shipping via DHL, targeting discerning gentlemen seeking traditional British craftsmanship.
When was Bates Hats founded?
Bates Hats was founded in 1898. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bates Hats based?
Bates Hats is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Bates Hats make money?
One revenue line is on record: luxury Hat Sales.
Who are Bates Hats's main competitors?
Others on record are Ettinger and Hilditch & Key. Direct peers are Christys' Hats, Herbert Johnson Hatters, Lock & Co. Hatters and Optimo Hats. Broad incumbents are Kangol, Borsalino and Stetson. Bailey of Hollywood is listed as an emerging player.
Does Bates Hats have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bates Hats.
What industry is Bates Hats in?
Bates Hats's product category is Luxury Headwear and Traditional Hatmaking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAAJAE, Hats, Caps & Headwear, with a secondary code of CRAKAEAG, Luxury Hats & Headwear. Its NAICS code is 45811 and its SIC code is 5600.