While some brands trade on heritage; Lock & Co defines it. As the world’s oldest hatmaker, it has been stitching itself into the very fabric of history since 1676. From Winston Churchill to Oscar Wilde and even Admiral Lord Nelson, whose statue in Trafalgar Square stands eternally crowned in one of their dashing designs, it has graced the heads of luminaries for centuries. Step inside the storied shop on St James’s Street and you’ll find history quite literally lines the walls, with wooden heads signed by some of the greats who have passed through its doors.

Yet, for all its reverence for the past, Lock & Co has never stood still. The house that pioneered the bowler hat – first designed to protect gamekeepers from low-hanging branches before later becoming a symbol of British elegance – has perfected the balance between tradition and innovation. Outlasting fleeting trends, shifting fads and even changing monarchs, the hatters’ secret to standing the test of time is creating hats that do exactly that. 

For spring/summer 2025, Lock & Co turns its gaze to the gentle rhythms of nature with Serenity in Bloom, a collection that celebrates the beauty of the seasons and their passing. The colour palette is a study in quiet luxury: buttercup yellow, rose pink and soft lavender hues conjure images of sunlit fields and garden soirées. The shades, while muted, carry a subtle vibrancy that’s guaranteed to lift spirits, even during a late-summer drizzle. And while the colours evoke the sensation of hazy, leisurely evenings, the craftsmanship is pure Lock & Co: rigorously polished.

As anticipated, the collection revisits the classics, injecting new life into some old-time favourites. The flat cap’s deceptively simple exterior belies its surprisingly complex anatomy and unexpected versatility. Worn by everyone from Hollywood movie stars to wealthy aristocrats and even Cillian Murphy’s backstreet criminal alter-ego, it features a deep-cut back for a better range of vision and a shallower fit. The selection includes plain block-colours alongside a few patterned choices; from pinstripes to heritage check wool – a nod to 16th-century England when a brief government mandate required men to wear them to bolster the wool trade. Centuries later, the flat cap endures, folded neatly into back pockets and modern wardrobes.

Few summer accessories rival the charm of the panama and trilby, both of which take centre stage in the new collection. The hats flaunt charming grosgrain ribbon trims, soft internal linings and added silicon inside the pinch for extra longevity. All handmade by skilled craftsmen, some are made with a fine weave so precise it casts a sharp, defined shadow, while breezier straw options allow light to filter through, casting shifting, playful patterns beneath.

For those seeking more contemporary options, the brand expands its repertoire with a new selection of lightweight, travel-ready pieces. The waterproof baseball cap, an evolution of its flat-capped ancestor, arrives in a light easy fabrication. Meanwhile, the Tenby bucket hat, a new venture for the brand, introduces a smaller-brimmed alternative, complete with breathable eyelets for the height of summer.

Lock & Co’s SS25 collection reminds us of the power of a well-chosen hat to transform a simple ensemble into a sartorial masterpiece. Serenity in Bloom has us pencilling in summer fêtes and al fresco cocktails, but beyond the season’s revelry, it reaffirms a simple truth: behind every great legacy is an even greater hat.

Lockhatters.com