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 bored. To improve his experience, Bart took a sewing machine and began to make 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 beach of the town. 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 did not go unnoticed, even by famous people, who also succumbed to the colorful swim shorts.
Bart encountered such success that he quickly expanded his collection. He ventured into selling accessories, thus making the collection more attractive 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 unique 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 early models remain very different from the vast Barts collection that can be found nowadays.
The famous clay heads
From his home in the heart of Amsterdam, Barts has paid close attention to ensure that winter accessories are handmade, making sure that the collections offered original products with aesthetic and refined designs. Each style was designed in Amsterdam with passion and attention to detail, using high-quality materials. Each year, the collection grows and becomes larger, 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 biggest success stories among winter accessory 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 well, 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 appreciated just 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 does not deviate from its founder's initial dream: to have a focused and balanced brand. The clientele remains loyal to the brand because it has managed to stay authentic and true to its philosophy: offering the best collections, even as they grow from year to 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!
