Kangol

Kangol is arguably one of the most well-known and beloved headwear brands in the streetwear scene, with its famous hats, berets, and buckets serving as authentic style icons in popular culture.

The birth of a legend
The story of how Kangol went from being a supplier of berets to the British Army during World War II to becoming a fetish brand for rappers and movie stars is fascinating. Created by Jakob
Henryk Spreiregen, a Jewish immigrant of Polish origin who arrived in England in 1915 and started making his first hats in London during the 1930s, the famous name was born from the union of the 'K' in "knit", the 'ANG' from the angora wool used, and the 'OL' from "wool".

The kangaroo crosses the pond
After gaining fame during and after World War II – manufacturing up to a million hats a year – Kangol hired Pierre Cardin and Mary Quant to lead the design of all the brand's products.
It was at this time that celebrities such as The Beatles, golfer Arnold Palmer, and, years later, Princess Diana began requesting exclusive hat designs for daily wear. It was then that the
United States started investing in Kangol, increasing interest in the "kangaroo brand."

The 80s and Hip Hop. How Kangol changed the game forever
And suddenly, hip hop hit the streets and the radio charts in the United States, with MCs, DJs, and B-boys across the country starting to set the style. Suddenly, LL Cool J, famous for his collection of caps
and hats, began wearing Kangol berets and buckets in all his public appearances, creating an authentic craze around the brand and leading other artists of the time such as Run DMC, Slick Rick, Grandmaster
Flash or, more recently, Missy Elliot to follow suit and contribute to the calling effect. The fact that movie stars like Wesley Snipes or Samuel L. Jackson started wearing the brand's berets on
and off-screen during the 90s only increased Kangol's global popularity.