Hanna Hats operates from a family-rooted workshop in Donegal, where handcrafted, durable fabrics and a slow, prototype-led design process, begun by David Hanna in 1924, mean every cap carries provenance as well as purpose. Balancing cottage-industry sewing, careful patchwork recycling, and selective tools like a laser cutter, the brand treats people, craft, and sustainability as a tripod for growth, so each piece reads as an investment in skillful creation rather than a mass-market commodity.
Hanna Hats of Donegal make no secret of what sets their work apart. Each piece is produced in a workshop on Ireland’s northwest coast, where a mix of cutters, machinists, and pattern makers stitch together materials and ideas honed over generations.
Hanna Hats Donegal workshop employs 23.
Eleanor Hanna, who now runs the family business with her brother, John Patrick, told IrishCentral, "We still use many of the same traditional methods used back when David Hanna started making hats. We want to progress with the times and incorporate new measures that will help with our sustainability efforts, there are some traditional methods that we’ve kept for good reason, they work, and are time and cost-effective."
Hanna Hats story is rooted in family and design. The original shapes and many of the brand’s signature patterns trace back to David Hanna's vision, who began shaping the company’s identity through careful prototypes and patient handcraft.
These beloved hats and other creations balance domestic traditions with practical steps toward scale.
A brim being hand stitched.
Eleanor told IrishCentral, "Some of our team work on their own sewing machines at home- a tradition of cottage industry still in operation today- this allows them to work from home, which suits if they don’t live near our workshop. This means we benefit from our team’s skills, and it suits their lifestyle too.
"In 2022, we invested in a laser cutting machine, which assists with the cutting of larger bulk orders from our wholesale customers- this saves time and waste than if it were done by hand. This machine gives us scalability for the future and ensures we are producing in an economic and sustainable way."
People are the brand’s operating system. They employ a team that covers the full chain of craft and commerce, from cutters and machinists to dispatch and accounts.
Hanna Hats.
"We have a team of 23 people working with us at Hanna Hats. Our team is from all over the world, and some of them have been with us for over 20 years," Eleanor said.
"They vary from our craftspeople: cutters, machinists, and quality control, to dispatch, admin, and our office team, including marketing and accounts. Each member of our team brings unique skills to what we do, whether that’s our cutters cutting the tweed for various styles or our machinists sewing peaks or linings. Everyone plays their part to ensure our customers are happy with their final product."
Hanna Hats' Walking Hat Tweed.
Looking to the future, the Hanna family believes their team of creatives will remain at the center of the company, while technology will also help drive progress.
"There is no doubt that we need our team, without our team we can’t continue to handcraft in Donegal, which is something we’re so proud to still be doing. Our team is at the centre of what Hanna Hats is all about.
"These people and the skills they possess are crucial to what we do. Some aspects of what we do can never be replaced by technology and are unique to us and the knowledge we have gained since we started.
"However, we’re always looking for ways to make things more efficient and reduce waste, so we always keep an eye on what new machinery might help us with that. Our people and craft will always come before technology, but it’s a win-win if the technology can support our team and craft."
These handcrafted pieces are still made using traditional methods from the 1920s, including the ancient art of quilting, which is used to make each of their patchwork products.
"We want to continue to progress and incorporate new measures that will help with our sustainability efforts. There are some traditional methods that we’ve kept for good reason," Eleanor said.
"Although a product from us may be more of an investment- they are made to last, many of our hats and caps are passed down through generations of families, which is so special. This is a testament to the quality of our products and the materials we use in them."
Comments