Mid-season Collection: Women - Men Delivery 24/48h, Free from €90 Satisfaction Guaranteed or Money Back
The largest selection of hats in France
Bart Koene - A modest beginning
It was during the summer of 1986 that Bart Koene, born and raised in Holland, started his business during an internship in France where he was feeling bored. To improve his experience, Bart took a sewing machine and started making his own swim shorts. He then decided to travel along the French coast to find a place to spend his summer. It was in Saint-Tropez that he began selling his swim shorts, displayed on a simple bamboo branch, on the famous town beach. In less than six weeks, he sold all his stock! This modest beginning laid the foundation for what the company is today: a trendy accessories brand that has established itself internationally. Upon leaving France, Bart embarked on a world tour. Arriving in Bali, he bought beautiful colorful fabrics to make new beach shorts and pants. Later, he returned to Saint-Tropez where life was more relaxed and full of simple pleasures. Bart's work didn't go unnoticed, even among celebrities, who also fell for the colorful swim shorts.
Bart met with such success that he quickly expanded his collection. He ventured into selling accessories, making the collection more appealing to women. In 1992, Bart launched the Barts brand in the Netherlands, starting with a summer collection of colorful bandanas. To do this, he created a particular way of presenting his collection, using the famous Barts clay heads that were handmade by his wife, Kelly. The first collection was a real success which then led to a winter collection of 3 different types of hats! Of course, these first models remain very different from the vast Barts collection that can be found today.
The famous clay heads
From its house in the heart of Amsterdam, Barts has taken great care to ensure that winter accessories are handmade, making sure that collections offered original products with aesthetic and sophisticated designs. Each style was designed in Amsterdam with passion and attention to detail, using high-quality materials. Each year, the collection grows and becomes bigger, better, and more beautiful than the previous one.
The flair, enthusiasm, and dynamism of the people working with Barts has been one of the key elements of the company's success. Retailers in the Netherlands have always been passionate about the company. Barts now has a huge and ever-growing fan base across Europe. The brand is based in a new headquarters "Barts II" , in the port of Amsterdam. It has become one of the most successful winter accessories brands across Europe where the range can be found at many retailers.
This incredible success also lies in the entrepreneurial spirit of Bart and his dedicated team of professionals. The principle? Do things right, or don't do them at all, do what you believe in, even if it's not always easy. The journey to create something should be enjoyed as much as the achieved goal. Hard work, personal development, and freedom are equally important for success and joy - which is Barts' life philosophy. Although Barts grows year after year, the brand doesn't deviate from its founder's initial dream: to have a focused and balanced brand. Customers remain loyal to the brand because it has remained authentic and true to its philosophy: offering the best collections, even as they grow year after year. In seeking to maintain its current success, the company hopes that others will be inspired by this story - which would make Bart Koene a very happy man!
