Hat & Cap Manufacturers in Europe: An Overview

Looking for a new cap and hat manufacturer in Europe? In this guide, we list leading manufacturers located in Poland, Lithuania, Czech Republic, and Portugal. We also explain what you must know when creating a techpack for custom designed headwear. In addition, the guide also covers private label products, OEKO Tex Standard 100, and MOQ requirements.

Supplier Overview

Supplier qualifications

Industry overview

Custom products

Most cap and hat manufacturers in Europe produce custom designed products entirely based on the buyer’s specifications. However, doing so requires that you can provide a complete headwear techpack.

Techpack

Design drawings
Size chart
Bill of materials
Pantone colours
Embroidery files
Care label
Hang tag file

Size chart

The following measurements are commonly included in a cap techpack:

Height (front panel)
Visor height
Height (lateral)
Height (lateral stitching)
Visor length
Cap circumference

Bill of materials

The following materials are commonly included in a cap techpack:

Panels
Visor
Sweatband
Brand label
Care label
Buckle
Closure

Private label

Some cap manufacturers in Europe have their own product catalogues. This means that you can select a ready-made design and then have your logo printed or embroidered. Buying private-label headwear can be an option if you don’t necessarily need to create a new design, or if you don’t have access to designers.

OEKO Tex Standard 100

Caps and hats sold in the EU are subject to substance restrictions under the REACH regulation. This is also the case in the United States, where headwear for children must comply with lead and phthalate restrictions under CPSIA. OEKO Tex Standard 100 is a standard that covers several EU and US substance restrictions as part of a single testing procedure.

Country/market

Examples

1. REACH

2. Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation

USA

CPSIA (total lead content)

MOQ requirements

The MOQ requirement for hats and caps is normally set at around 250 to 500 pcs per design and colour. Some cap manufacturers can offer lower MOQs for certain materials, or if you buy private label products.

Poland

Jack Headwear

Jack Headwear is a Polish cap manufacturer that has a 4-step implementation process. Step 1 involves clients choosing a cap model and determining its design. Step 2, while optional, involves sampling. During Step 3, the company approves the project and provides prices and delivery times. Step 4 involves an advance payment before the actual production.

Jack Headwear can sew the branded tags as well as use the client’s materials to make the cap. The company uses marking methods such as 2D and 3D embroidery, eco-leather patches, and engraving. As is always the case, the price depends on the cap’s design.

The MOQ is 10 pieces, and orders of up to 300 pieces take 2 weeks to produce. The company also provides downloadable files for design.

Main products

Caps
Waist bag

Location: Nowy Targ, Poland

AZET Hats & Caps Sp. z o.o. Sp. k.

AZET Hats & Caps Sp. z o.o. Sp. k. is a 3rd-generation manufacturing company that was founded in 1995. The company produces headgear and headdresses and can make hats and caps ranging from simple caps to reconstructions of elaborate historical headgear. It, however, also specialises in producing unique custom-made hats. It also makes accessories for caps and uniforms (e.g., cords, buttons, and straps), including leather articles (e.g., belts) and belt buckles.

The company has ready-made samples of its products, which include caps for pilots, sailors, and graduates, uniform hats for forces such as the navy, air force, or fire brigade, as well as reconstructions of various types of caps.

Delivery time takes around 8–9 weeks.

Main products

Uniform hats
Reconstructed caps
Winter caps
Pilot caps
Sailing caps
Graduation caps
Brimmed hats
Popular caps

Location: Żołędowo, Poland

Head & Cap

Head & Cap is a Polish cap manufacturer that aims to make quality custom caps in an era of throwaway fashion. The company’s cap products are seamless to provide comfort. It makes one-panel caps (single-material, one-piece crowns) and two-panel caps. One of its caps even has a removable sweatband.

The materials used depend on the cap but include materials such as plastic for the snapback, cotton, organic cotton, RPET, polyester, and wool acrylic. The MOQ is 150 pieces, which is fairly low for the headwear industry. According to the company’s catalogue, some of its caps are made per the Global Recycled Standard, or even GOTS or OEKO TEX Standard 100.

Per the website, it has a 6-step process that implements quality checks after the cap is made.

Main products

Paneled caps
Baseball caps
Snapback caps
Dad caps
Trucker baseball caps
Trucker caps

Location: Stryków, Poland

Portugal

ApparelX

Founded in 2005, ApparelX is a Portuguese headwear manufacturer that makes apparel such as shirts and jackets but opened a second factory in 2018 specifically for producing headwear such as hats and caps. The company aims to make 3000 caps daily by 2025.

It produces various types of caps such as baseball caps, trucker caps, and Panama hats. It notes on its website that its commitment to sustainability means it uses natural materials to produce its caps.

The company has pattern makers and fabric experts. It also creates internal samples. Prices depend on the client’s tech pack. The company’s quality control team visits the production line daily. It also handles international shipping of its products.

Main products

Tye-dye caps
Trucker caps
Panama caps
Denim caps
Bombazine caps
Baseball caps

Location: Barcelos, Portugal

Lithuania

SP Hothead Cap

SP Hothead Cap is a Lithuanian family headwear manufacturing company founded in 1991. It produces various types of headwear, from custom hats to promotional headwear. It has produced headgear for multiple clients, including tertiary institutions.

Each of the company’s caps undergoes 40 production stages and requires at least 15 types of special equipment to ensure quality.

The company’s MOQ starts at 50 items per colour or design, but it permits an increased MOQ depending on the item. It offers samples, and its pricing per unit depends on fabric, production, embroidery, and additional customisation. Lead times take between 3 weeks to 3 months.

Its main export markets are in the EU.

Main products

Dad caps
Mesh caps
Bucket hats
Baseball caps
Snapback caps
Winter snapback caps

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania

Czech republic

coFEE

coFEE was founded in 1998 and manufactures customised caps and hats, including baseball caps and knitted beanies. The company has its own knitting and embroidery production and also has a large capacity of stock items. It uses Embroidery Thread for its cap products.

Its warehouse is in Central Europe and the company’s delivery time from that warehouse is within a few days. It also has a production facility that can help clients make embroidered or imprinted company logos.

Clients can pick from a wide range of materials, accessories, and designs, as well as logo production, process, and placement. The company’s dealers are all around the EU, in countries such as Albania, France, Monaco, Poland, and Sweden.

Main products

Stock caps
Tailor-made caps
Stock beanies
Tailor-made winter caps

Location: Brno, Czech Republic