Hats are one of the best categories to start a brand in. They brand well, carry good margins and avoid the size complexity of apparel. Here is how to start a hat brand, from idea to first order.
Choosing your hat styles
Start by choosing one or two styles that suit your brand and the season. A bucket hat for summer or a structured style for winter is a focused, sensible launch. Resist launching every style at once; prove a couple first, then expand.
Finding a hat manufacturer
Your manufacturer is your most important decision. Look for genuine hat-making experience, quality control, reliable delivery and a willingness to work with new brands. Hats are a fit and proportion product, so development capability matters more than the cheapest quote.
Development and sampling
Bring a sketch or a reference and a full service manufacturer turns it into a tech pack and samples it for your approval. Getting the brim, crown and sizing right at sampling is what separates a hat that sells from one that sits. Sign off a sample you are happy with before production.
Minimums and first run
Your first run will be at the manufacturer's minimum for your style. Keep it manageable with stock materials and limited colours, and grow into fuller customisation as you sell. Engelite has manufactured hats for Australian brands since 1956. If you are starting a hat brand, we will help you make your first range.