The brand where chickens fly
Accessories

05 August 2021

The brand where chickens fly

The brand where chickens fly



Maybe we went a little overboard in our title. No chickens flew for the execution of this post, but the truth is that Goorin Bros has come to highlight many animals with their hats. Tigers, lions, dogs, roosters, bears, wolves, foxes, cats and monkeys are just some of the ones you can find featured on the brand's hats.


Goorin Bros was founded in 1895 by a man with a great passion for hats. Cassel Goorin, a native of Pittsburgh in the United States of America, became the foundation of the business that was taken over by his sons Alfred and Ted almost 25 years later. He started out on his own and his insistence on the business led him to establish Goorin, Shapira & Co. In 1921, his sons changed the name to Goorin Brothers or Goorin Bros, as it is known today.


The business evolved over the years, despite all the world wars and recessions. They were already selling all over the United States, but it was with the 1960 Winter Olympics that the brand gained wings, by being the official hat of the event. After the Goorin brothers, the company continued to pass from generation to generation, until it reached Ben Goorin, the brand's current CEO.





Even though hats are not always fashionable, or so easily marketed, Goorin Bros has maintained its strong presence in the market. This is because the brand knows how to adapt. The most recent update was embracing online sales. Apart from the Olympic games, it was with the influence of actors and musicians that the brand's hats reached the masses. The 1980s film 'Urban Cowboy' starring John Travolta was responsible for the sale of many fedoras.


It was by knowing how to stay relevant and exciting that the brand was on the lips of the world in 2019. At the time, personalities such as footballers Lionel Messi, Neymar, Mauro Icardi and actors Gerard Butler, Andrew Lincoln and Alvaro Morte were seen wearing one of the brand's most famous lines: the Animal Farm collection.


As the name suggests, the Animal Farm collection consists of trucker caps with the image of several different animals. This is where the chickens of the title come in, or rather, the roosters. With the animals featured within patches sewn onto the hats, this collection is casual and fun.





Did you know that truckers got their name because they were the hats that truckers wore in the 1960s? Companies made merchandising that they gave to truckers to wear during their trips and thus make the brand known all over the country. The trucker cap stands out for its lightness, the mesh back that promotes air circulation and the large and wide brim to protect from the sun.


The Animal Farm collection is also available in cap and bucket hat versions, but it is with the trucker that it has a stronger presence.  In several different colours, some plain and others with patterns, the hats in this collection have different seams. Some go unnoticed, while others stand out. Basically, what Goorin Bros wants is for you to free your inner animal with these products.


In addition, the brand advocates and fights for racial equality. In October 2020, Goorin Bros in partnership with Power Haus Creative, an Atlanta-based art consultancy, auctioned off several custom hats by local artists. The money raised reverted to ADAMA, the Atlanta Museum of African Diaspora Art. In addition to the auction, the hats were part of the 'Own your Crown' exhibition which aimed to recognise self-worth and empower the viewer.





Buying a hat from Goorin Bros is a whole experience. Walking through the door of the physical shops, the customer is transported to the past, with antique furniture, black and white photographs and crystal lamps. With the pandemic, the in-store experience has changed, but we can still see in the product designs the influences of the past. The moulds used to shape the hats are still the same.


It has been over 125 years since Cassel Goorin sold his first hat. Four generations have run the company and together they have seen 36 shop openings. Goorin Bros is inspired by the past to create the best product for the future. Be inspired by the animals you can find on our website.




Goorin Bros


Leave your comment about this news

Form successfully submitted.
Required field.
Invalid field
Field with maximum character limit
This field doesn't match with the previous one
Field with minimum character limit
There was an error submitting, please review the form.

* Required fields.