FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2025
Bollman Hat Company Launches Handcrafted Makers’ Collection to Secure the Future of America’s Oldest Hat Factory; Invites Brand Partnerships
ADAMSTOWN, PA – Bollman Hat Company, America’s oldest hat manufacturer, today announced the expansion of its prestigious Makers’ Collection, an exclusive line of handcrafted hats that honors the artisans who have dedicated their careers to American manufacturing excellence. The limited-edition collection is available for brands, retailers, and corporations seeking authentic American-made products with unparalleled heritage.
The initiative aims to preserve the historic Adamstown factory, America’s oldest hat manufacturing facility, which faces an uncertain future as production demand has declined to just 23% of the company’s global sales, down from 100% in the 1970s when the factory produced twenty times more than it does today.
“There’s something profound about working with your hands to create quality products that people wear with pride,” said Don Rongione, President and CEO of Bollman Hat Company. “The Makers’ Collection allows us to celebrate the employee-owners who have made Bollman their life’s work while inviting new partners to join us in building the future of American manufacturing.”
Founded in 1868 by George Bollman in a former whiskey distillery on Main Street in Adamstown, Pennsylvania, Bollman Hat Company began during an era when leaving home without a hat was unthinkable. Surviving more than 157 years of economic shifts and fashion evolution, the Bollman factory was recently recognized as the 19th-oldest continuously operating consumer products maker in America. Through its 100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Bollman has built a culture where skilled artisanship passes from generation to generation. Seventeen employee-owners have worked at the company for 50 years, with hundreds more achieving 40 years of service.
In 2009, Bollman founded American Made Matters to educate consumers on the importance of buying American-made products. The Makers’ Collection embodies this mission, offering both consumers and brands an opportunity to invest in American manufacturing excellence on Main Street.
The Makers’ Collection represents the pinnacle of Bollman’s artistry, with every hat undergoing an average of 60 individual touchpoints by skilled hands to ensure 157 years of quality and attention to detail. Each style is named after an employee-owner who has contributed at least 35 years of service to the company. Every hat is lined with a photo of the factory taken in the 1870s and includes a certificate of authenticity signed by current employee-owners.
The Makers’ Collection initiative represents a commitment to preserving American manufacturing expertise for future generations. While Bollman has successfully expanded its global brand portfolio, this collection creates specific, sustainable demand that keeps skilled American craftspeople employed and historic manufacturing knowledge alive.
The collection offers visionary brands a rare entry point to align with authentic American manufacturing heritage. Whether through co-branded collaborations, private label partnerships, or corporate gifting programs, the Makers’ Collection provides differentiation through genuine provenance and craftspersonship stories that resonate with today’s conscious consumers.
Consumers can experience handcrafted excellence and own a piece of American manufacturing history by visiting the Makers Collection on hats.com. Brand partners interested in co-branded collaborations, private label development, or custom corporate programs are invited to contact Bollman Hat Company’s team. For more information, contact Ryann McDevitt, Executive Assistant to President & CEO, at (717) 484-6249 or rmcdevitt@bollmanhats.com.
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About Bollman Hat Company:
Founded in 1868, Bollman Hat Company is employee-owned and is America’s oldest hat maker. Bollman has 240 employees located on four continents and distributes products in over seventy countries.
The Bollman Group provides the world with the headwear industry’s top brands that include Bailey®, Betmar®, Country Gentleman®, Helen Kaminski®, and KANGOL®. Bollman owns www.hats.com and serves consumers online through hats.com, baileyhats.com, helenkaminski.com and Kangol.com. Bollman’s employee-owners manufacture wool felt, fur felt, straw hats, and knit caps in its factory located in Adamstown, Pennsylvania, USA, which is America’s oldest hat factory. To learn more, visit www.bollmanhats.com
Media Contact: Ryann McDevitt – Executive Assistant to President & CEO – Tel: (717) 484-6249 – rmcdevitt@bollmanhats.com