K - ANG - OL

 

If I, as a complete non-hip-hop fan, wear a Kangol hat, it's solely because of Quentin Tarantino's 1998 film Jackie Brown. In it, Samuel L. Jackson constantly wore a Kangol 504 hat and made it a complete cult accessory. 

The label was founded by Jaques Spreiregen (1893–1979), who was born in Warsaw and lived in France, inspired by the fashion there. In 1938, he established a textile factory in Cleator, a district of Cleator Moor in Cumbria in the far northwest of England, after having imported berets from France for several years.

Today Kangol ist part of the British Frasers Group owned by Mike Ashley, that also includes other traditional brands such as Slazenger, Everlast, and Lonsdale.

I am well aware that every subculture follows a certain 'dress code' that is sometimes more and sometimes less tied to certain labels. Like Fred Perry for Mods and Skins, the early Vivienne Westwood for Punks, as well as various sports labels in the hip hop and house scene. 

However, it's not uncommon for the fashion of some subcultures to overlap with the style of others. For example, motorcycle leather jackets, tartan, or even Dr. Martens.

And of course the good old berets.. 

In my opinion, there shouldn't be clearly defined dress codes for subcultures. It's all about individuality, DIY, and anti-conformism.

Kangol – Preppy Jaxx