Our history

Pipolaki was born in 1962 in Nay located in the Pyrenees. André and Jean Olibet, who made berets at the time, started to design a few hats from Pyrenees Wool. Both passionate about skiing, they made their first piece for Annie Famose, the French alpine ski team member from Pau, and decided to call them "Pipolaki". In 1964, the Pipolaki success story was launched when Christine and Marielle Goitschel won the giant slalom event at the Innsbruck Olympic Games and made the cover of Paris Match with their gold medal and their Pipolaki hat. From then on, the brand became an essential reference for the greatest skiers and the French Alpine skiing teams: Jean-Claude Killy, Annie Famose, the Goitschel sisters... All ski enthusiasts and mountain lovers wear a Pipolaki hat!

The mountains and winter sports are becoming more and more important in the French hearts. The ski resorts fill up every year and welcome thousands of family and friends in search of a moment of fun and excitement. The classic ski clothes are giving way to fluorescent suits and overalls. Pipolaki hats, known for their unrivalled fit and comfort, are flourishing on the ski slopes and are riding the flashy colour trend. They have become very popular and families no longer say "put on your hat" but "put on your Pipolaki"! Faced with this craze, Pipolaki diversifies without losing its quality. New accessories are created: summer hats, fanny packs, caps, socks and joined the beanie collections...From now on, the Pipolaki brand can be worn in winter as well as in summer.

Pipolaki hats continue to hit the slopes and conquer new countries: Belgium, Switzerland, Germany... Pipolaki even plans to seduce the American continent. However, in 2010, the helmet is imposed on the ski slopes and replaces the ski beanie; Pipolaki then loses its reputation, also suffering the full force of woldwilde competition. The brand is running out of steam...

In 2014, Pipolaki took a new turn when Juliette and Frank Reghenaz bought the brand to give it a second wind. Based on its DNA, its heritage and its reputation, they decided to wake up this sleeping beauty and make Pipolaki hats and accessories a fashion accessory for the mountains and also for the city. The original logo is brought up to date and brings the mountain to the city! Pipolaki renews itself by proposing a more fashionable offer which gives pride of place to noble and natural materials such as wool, cashmere, Angora...

With nearly 60 years of know-how in the design of hats, Pipolaki is reorganising itself to favour French and European production, which was previously neglected.