OUR STORY

In 2010 costume designer Rhian Kempadoo Millar was studying a part-time HNC in Millinery at Leeds College of Art . One of the modules was about sustainability and Rhian began to explore the local textiles industry within her home town of Yorkshire in the North of England. She realised that in the previous 10 years many of the local mills had closed and the region which was previously recognised for outstanding fabrics and manufacturing.

Her final project was called ‘Can you still make a Flat Cap in Yorkshire? a tongue in cheek question which developed into the seed of an idea for a business. While researching the question Rhian discovered that the majority of the flat caps she found were either Made in China or Bangladesh. 

How can you possibly know the provenance of a cap made so far away and surely we must be able to make something with less carbon footprint nearer to home?

So KM Headwear was born

Since the official launch online in 2013 KM Headwear has become the brand of choice for customers looking for unique, high quality British made headwear. Our designs offer substance and style! 

'My Scottish Jamaican dad always wore a at cap, but rather than traditional brown or green it was bright red or lemon yellow .worn with a bright shirt & contrasting trousers. He always looked funky even when wearing his golf gear.  I loved the idea of taking something conventional and giving it an edge like he did. 

My Mum also moved back to Trinidad when I was 18 which gave me the opportunity to connect with my Caribbean heritage, I was heavily involved in making carnival costumes there which is a skill I have used in my costume design and now headwear career.

I love to bring together the vibrant colours from my carnival days and create exciting designs around a classic Yorkshire style of hat’