Is Hatley rain gear worth it for kids?+
For most parents the answer is yes. Hatley built its name on PVC-free rain gear and playful printed raincoats, and the appeal is that they're cut with room to grow and tough enough to be handed down between siblings. If you want a cheerful, durable coat that survives the school run rather than a disposable one, Hatley is squarely aimed at you.
What is Hatley best known for?+
Hatley is best known for two things: its PVC-free rain gear and its cotton pyjamas, both carrying the bright, illustrative prints that started the company. Beyond those signatures the range now stretches into children's apparel, women's sleepwear and a wide gift line, but the rainwear and pyjamas remain the heart of the brand.
Which Hatley piece should I buy first?+
Start with what Hatley does best: a printed raincoat or a set of cotton pyjamas. These are the products the company was founded on, so the prints are the strongest and the fit is the most refined. Once you know the sizing suits your child, the napkins, mugs, kitchen textiles and other gift items make easy add-ons.
Where can I buy Hatley?+
Hatley sells through its own direct-to-consumer website as well as around 13 corporate stores in North America, the most recent opening in Annapolis, Maryland. The brand is also stocked in roughly 3,300 stores across North America and in more than 20 countries, and it runs a dedicated UK website to serve its European shoppers.
Where is Hatley from and when was it founded?+
Hatley was founded in 1986 as a home-based business in North Hatley, Quebec, Canada, by John and Alice Oldland. Alice, an artist, ran a gift shop called "The Little Blue House" and painted in her studio, and the company grew directly out of her artwork. Today it is a Montreal-based retailer and wholesaler of gifts and apparel.
How did Hatley actually get started?+
It began with hand-painted aprons. To support local charitable causes, Alice Oldland donated hand-painted aprons for auction, and John, spotting the demand for her designs, sold 200 of them to kitchen stores on a trip to Toronto. That first response to her artwork is what turned a small Quebec gift shop into a clothing company.
Who owns Hatley now?+
Hatley remains a family business. When founders John and Alice Oldland retired in 1999, they transferred ownership to their three sons, Chris, Nick and Jeremy. It was under the sons that the headquarters moved from North Hatley to Montréal and the line broadened into children's apparel, women's sleepwear and gift items.
Is Hatley a Canadian brand?+
Yes. Hatley is Canadian, founded in North Hatley, Quebec, and now headquartered in Montréal. The brand name itself comes from that original village. It has since expanded abroad, opening a warehouse in Portsmouth, England in 2014 and its first European store in Chiswick, London in July 2015.
Does Hatley sell in Europe and the UK?+
It does. Hatley expanded into Europe in 2014 by setting up a warehouse in Portsmouth, England, then opened its first European retail store in Chiswick, London, in July 2015. To support that market it also launched a dedicated UK website, so European shoppers can buy directly.
When is the best time to buy children's rainwear?+
Aim for the shoulder of the season rather than the peak. Buying late summer or early autumn means the new prints have just landed before the rainy months, while end-of-season clear-outs are the moment to size up for next year. Because Hatley cuts generously and the coats hand down well, buying a touch large is rarely a mistake.
