IT'S a brand famous the world over – but many might not know of Kangol's Cumbrian origins.
Its Cleator hat factory was opened in 1938 by Jewish Polish World War One veteran Jacques Spreiregen to produce hats for workers, golfers and soldiers (it was a major supplier of Army berets during the war).
So successful was business that a second factory was opened at Frizington, and later a third factory to make motorcycle helmets and seat belts was opened in Carlisle.
Although the brand lives on, alas hat production ceased in West Cumbria but the memories l;ive on, as today's archive pictures show.
Oh, and the name Kangol? The K stood for knitting, the ANG for angora and the OL for wool...
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