Founded in Cleator, Cumbria in 1938 by Jakob Spreiregen, Kangol (the K from silK or Knitting or Knitted, the ANG from angora, the OL from wool) produced hats for workers, golfers, and especially soldiers - they were the major beret suppliers to the armed forces during World War II with the 504 Kangol hat shape. They gained wider attention following their adoption by members of the hip-hop community in the 1980s, such as Run-DMC, LL Cool J, and Kangol Kid of UTFO, and the release of more consciously stylish products in the 1990s such as the furgora (angora-wool mix) Spitfire, helped by its presence upon the head of Samuel L. Jackson in 1997.

In December 2001 the licence to manufacture and sell headwear was sold to the Bollman hat company who are based in Adamstown, Pennsylvania, USA. Shortly after, the last of the factories in the United Kingdom (the Frizington site) was also closed with production being transferred to factories in the Far East and particularly a wholly owned factory in Panyu just across the border from Hong Kong.

The brand is currently run from a small office in London with a handful of employees overseeing what was once a substantial British business.