What do Samuel L. Jackson, Princess Di, Slick Rick and the Beatles have in common? They have all, in their time, donned a Kangol on their heads.

From the halls of Buckingham Palace to the streets of Harlem and Hollywood red carpets, the Kangol has left its mark as a symbol of edgy sophistication. Launched in England in 1938 as a maker of berets for the British army, Kangol established a reputation as purveyors of quality hats with a touch of style.

It was, however, an unexpected endorsement that brought the brand worldwide attention. Beginning in the late ’70s the burgeoning New York hip-hop scene of B-boys, graffiti artists and rappers adopted the Kangol as their official headgear.

It was a fad, which like hip-hop itself has never gone away. But for all this time, Kangols have only been available at certain retailers while the company itself was based in the UK.

That is why the opening of the new Kangol store in Venice, the first ever to open its doors on American soil, is such a momentous occasion. The opening party on Dec. 5 of last year proved worthy of the Kangol name, complete with DJs and an open bar.

The store itself is housed in an old beach bungalow on Abbot Kinney Boulevard with a large front yard (ideal for parties). You can’t miss it. It’s the one with the five-foot sculpture of the letter K.

Three showrooms feature multiple styles, from the classics to the most fresh designs. Included are a selection of fashion forward hats of high quality made from bamboo fabric, organic cotton and even sweet corn. Limited edition designs from famed fashionista Hiroshi Fujiwara are on display in the back room.

On the wall you’ll see photographs of various hip-hop icons sporting their favorite Kangol. These alone are worth a visit.



Kangol will host an in-store event March 6, 6 p.m.-10 p.m., with an open bar sponsored by Transphusion Energy Drink and discounts on selected styles. For more information, call (310) 399-8444.