Where can I buy Kangol Hats in NZ?

Kangol is an iconic British brand that has been creating its own unique style of flat caps, cheese cutters and beanies for over 50 years. Now, the brand is global with head offices in both London and New York.

And now, we're pleased to say Kangol Hats have a home in New Zealand as well.

That's right, Prohibition hats NZ has added Kangol to its Urban collection of designer hats to sit alongside our Goorin Brothers' Cheese Cutters and Fedoras and our Jaxon Hats range.

So, if you're asking yourself, "where can I buy Kangol Hats in New Zealand?"you now have the answer.

Kangol - Urban style from London

Great Britain has always been synonymous with flat caps and cheese cutters. And what greater place in Great Britain to create a trend setting style and Iconic brand than her capital, London?

Kangol started its days in a modest factory in Cleator in Cumbria, England in 1938.  Its founder, Jacques Spreiregen was a World War One veteran and, long before Kangol became the force of head wear that we all now know and love, he was the leading provider of berets to the British Army.

These berets became the must have head wear, throughout the 1960s, for the rich and famous including The Princess of Wales and The Beatles.

By using high quality designers who had a passion for hats (like your favourite Kiwi owned and operated online hat store), Kangol challenged the norm of the old fashioned flat caps and bonnets that were so prevalent in 1960s England.

They decided to do things a little bit differently. Rather than stick to the tried and tested tweeds and herringbones, they decided to incorporate some fresh new design touches into his patterns and shapes.

They began to introduce more 'ivy' shaped flat caps to supplement the traditional wide brim cheese cutter hat and began targeting a younger more urban crowd.

As the 60s drew to a close, Kangol cemented itself as a hip urban brand that was more mod than country. Who would have thought it? A flat cap perched on the head of a 1960s Londonite in Brixton.

Are Kangol hats good quality?

Kangol is now as famous for its designer flat caps and baseball caps as it is for its berets (and to a lesser extent, their range of fedoras and trilbies).

Many celebrities have endorsed Kangol hats with perhaps the highest profile being Samuel Jackson with his golf special. There's not doubt that this injection of celebrity has been instrumental in jettisoning Kangol into the big leagues.

One of the main reasons the brand has stood the test of time is down to the quality of the hat construction. Unlike many manufacturers, Kangol has not sacrificed quality for growth. They have maintained a cutting design edge whilst broadening their demographic. So much so that nowadays, Kangol cheese cutter hats could easily look good on a guy in his twenties or a hipster in his forties.

Largest range of Kangol Hats online in NZ

We reckon we have the largest range of Kangol hats and caps available online in New Zealand.  And the great news is, they're at a fantastic price too! Every single one of our Designer Kangol cheese cutter hats is less than $100 and our 25% discount when you buy two or more hats still applies. That means you could take home two Kangol Hats for only $142 - that's not bad for an authentic brand all the way from London, UK.

Our range of Kangol Hats includes the iconic Rain Tweed Peebles in black and grey, the Kangol 504 in black, dark flannel and flannel, the awesome Kangol Herringbone Newsboy and the Jacquard 507 - a style all of its own.

Kangol Rain Tweed Peebles

Kangol 504 Wool

Buy Kangol Hats NZ online today

At Prohibition Hats NZ we want to make it as easy as possible for you to find, buy and receive your funky new designer Kangol Hat.

That's why we still offer our 'no hassle returns' on hats that don't fit quite right and a super low delivery price of just $8.50 nationwide. All our hat sizes are easy to follow (see our website for all sizes) and we are only an email away for any help or assistance.

So, go online to www.prohibitionhats.co.nz/category/Kangol-hats for our full range of designer cheese cutters and flat caps from Kangol.

And remember, be kind to your head and make a statement with your choice of head wear.

Until next time.

Laurie Turnbull
Owner/Founder
Prohibition Hats NZ
www.prohibitionhats.co.nz
www.facebook.com/prohibitionhats

Cheese Cutter Hat

The traditional cheese cutter hat is making a comeback (Photo: www.prohibitionhats.co.nz)

The Cheese Cutter Hat is arguably the most well known of all retro head wear. And, if you're like me, you love a good quality Cheese Cutter, you'll be glad to hear that this ubiquitous of hats has now been given a streetwise and funky new look.

The Cheese Cutter Comeback

Yes, the Cheese Cutter Hat is definitely making (or has already made?) a comeback. The Cheese Cutter, once considered the accessory of people like your Dad (or perhaps a farmer) is now cool. But not shouty, "oi listen to me!", cool. The ol' Cheese Cutter is a more subdued, restrained cool.

Celebrities making cheese cutters cool again

For quite some time, cheese cutter hats have been considered a bit fuddy duddy. That was until a number of high profile celebrities started donning these distinctive flat caps. There have been many high profile celebs getting in on the action but the most influential is without a doubt, Mr Jackson (image below courtesy of www.bet.com) who has even gone to the extent of creating his own Signature line of Kangol hats. (If you're interested, you can find them here).

Samuel Jackson has made Cheese Cutters cool again! (http://www.bet.com)

David Beckham in a Newsboy (Photo: http://www.bbc.com/)

Brad Pitt looking quite the part in a cheese cutter (Photo: http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/)

But what about New Zealand?

Sadly, I haven't been able to find any photos of Kiwi celebrities wearing cheese cutters (or anything that's not a baseball cap actually). 

But, that's okay. It's our job to change that ;-)

Laurie Turnbull
Owner/Founder
Prohibition Hats NZ
www.prohibitionhats.co.nz
www.facebook.com/prohibitionhats

www.twitter.com/prohibitionhats

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How is a cheese cutter different from a duck bill flat cap?

How is a cheese cutter different from a duck bill flat cap?

The cheese cutter classic shape

The cheese cutter hat has a wide brow and a peak which starts right at the top of the hat and protrudes out significantly. If you look at its profile, you'll see it has a 'wedge' appearance which is possibly linked to the origin of the name 'cheese cutter' (history is a little vague on that one).

The origin of the cheese cutter

The cheese cutter shape is synonymous with flat cap hats and can be traced back to the 14th century in Northern England and parts of Southern Italy. There it  was more likely to be called a "bonnet", which term was replaced by "cap" sometime before about 1700.

 

Flat caps were almost universally worn in the 19th century by working class men throughout Britain and Ireland. However, versions in finer cloth were considered to be suitable casual countryside wear for upper-class English men (hence the contemporary alternative name golf cap). 

The Duckbill flat cap

The duckbill (called an 'Ivy' in the USA) has quite a different shape to a cheese cutter.

Its origins are from when Irish and English immigrants arrived in the United States, bringing the flat cap with them. 

However, the origins of the duck bill shape is less clear. It is certainly a derivative of the original flat cap (with the same long peak) but it has been influenced heavily by the more modern hat shapes that came out of the States from the 1990s onwards.

Which fits better - a cheese cutter or duckbill flat cap?

Well, this really comes down to the shape of your head (or, to be more exact, your face).

Cheese cutters have a wide brow so have the effect of shortening your face. Whereas duckbills are ideal for people with a square face as their shallower peak and less roomy brow hugs your head more giving the hat a rounder appearance, softening your chin line. 

The best thing to do is try a few on a see what you prefer! Check out my blog '3 tips for choosing the right hat' as well as our 'hat size chart' for help on how to find the right hat for you.

Shop online for the best deals

Prohibition Hats NZ has the best range of cheese cutters and duck bill flat caps at the lowest prices in New Zealand.

We have a huge range of duck bill hats, traditional cheese cutter hats and loads more. Whatever your style, you'll find it here.

So, for the most stylish flat caps in NZ, shop online at www.prohibitionhats.co.nz/category/cheese-cutter-hats

Make a statement with your hat NZ!

Laurie Turnbull
Owner / Founder
Prohibition Hats NZ
www.prohibitionhats.co.nz
www.facebook.com/prohibitionhats
www.twitter.com/prohibitionhats