Tipping Our Cap To Tradition
You'll find our compact workshop in the picturesque town of Donegal, a place renowned for its textile traditions. Here, our pieces have been designed, cut, sewn, pressed, inspected, packaged, and dispatched for almost 100 years.
Sure, there have been many changed and innovating over the years. But the workshop and fabric store still have a rustic charm which awes all visitors.
Many of the production processes used by our 21 skilled craftspeople still carry the same methods from our beloved grandfather's time.
It's this artisan heritage that has helped us remain Ireland's last operating commercial headwear workshop. And we'll continue to maintain our millinery traditions for as long as you appreciate our quality, authenticity and provenance.
1921
Founder & First Generation- David Hanna
In 1921 a sixteen-year-old boy from Belfast saw an advert in a local newspaper for a tailoring apprentice position. He was then seeking a vocation, and the position was with Mc Daid’s Tailors in Donegal Town, the other side of a newly divided country.
With a bike and a dream our grandfather, David Hanna, cycled over 100 miles from the east coast to the west coast of Ireland in the hope of securing the apprenticeship and a new place to call home. His dream came true, and the rest is history.
1924
Hanna Hats was established
Shortly after David’s apprenticeship began fate intervened when McDaid, the master-tailor, died leaving no heir interested in taking over the business.
But being both resilient and resourceful, David took the reins and Hanna Hats, as we know it today, was established in 1924.
1964
Second Generation- John Hanna & brothers join the business
Our father, John Joseph Hanna, joined the family business with his three brothers in 1964.
1965
Our first Hat
Initially, David focused on tailoring suits. However, one day a local man dropped into his workshop asking for a new hat. David made him a short-brimmed Trilby style hat from Donegal's finest tweed.
It took him four and a half hours to craft, and he called it: Hanna Hat, No.84", after the company's phone number. David discovered a particular interest and flair for headwear and the company evolved to specialise in designing and creating handcrafted hats and caps.
1975
The Vintage Cap launches
The year our Vintage Cap launched. This traditional flat cap has a wide body and flat peak with stud fastener.
It quickly became our best-selling style and remains it still to this day.
1984
John Hanna purchased Hanna Hats
After years of dedication and hard work, John Hanna purchased Hanna Hats in 1984. John had a passion for beautiful fabrics, customer service, and upholding the impeccable quality standards set by his father.
John expanded the business internationally, with consistent trade fairs in the United States, which inevitably leads the U.S. to become the biggest market under his leadership.
2023
Third Generation-Eleanor & John Patrick Hanna officially take over Hanna Hats
John’s children, Eleanor and John Patrick Hanna officially take over Hanna Hats. We remain deeply committed to the values that define our family’s legacy: craftsmanship, original designs, natural fabrics, and unwavering commitment to high-quality standards.
These values that were so important to our father John and his father David before him.
2024
100 years in business
This year marked Hanna Hats’ 100th year in business. We brought back our original hat, the No.84 Hat Tweed, which was a trilby style, for the occasion.
We’re proud to continue to handcraft our products here in our workshop in Donegal Town.