Craghoppers

Craghoppers is a British outdoor clothing manufacturer and supplier founded in Batley, West Riding of Yorkshire, in 1965. The business began as G & H Products, established by outdoor enthusiasts Brian Gaskin and Roy Holmes. Both founders were involved in walking, climbing and potholing, and their practical experience influenced the company’s early emphasis on functional clothing for demanding outdoor conditions. The business became an early adopter of nylon in outdoor garments and developed a reputation for technical design, including the Cagjac, a garment associated with the company’s early product innovation. A major early turning point came when the company was asked to design weather-resistant clothing for the mountaineering expedition led by Chris Bonington for the successful 1975 ascent of Mount Everest. Gaskin personally designed the expedition garments. The association gave the company substantial public visibility and helped attract additional capital for expansion. G & H Products subsequently worked with the Clarke brothers, makers of walking trousers and breeches. Craghoppers, a brand created by the Clarke brothers, was later acquired by G & H Products, which retained the Craghoppers name and used it as the principal consumer-facing identity. Craghoppers later experienced financial difficulties and changes in ownership. In 1995, it was acquired by the Regatta Group, a private British outdoor-clothing group. Under that ownership, Craghoppers continued to develop clothing and accessories for walking, travel, trekking and general outdoor use. The brand’s product architecture includes apparel for men, women and children, footwear, rucksacks, luggage and accessories. It generally releases spring/summer and autumn/winter collections, with seasonal products ranging from shorts, shirts and sandals to insulated jackets and cold-weather layers. The brand’s product proposition combines accessible outdoor clothing with fabric technologies intended to address common travel and adventure needs. NosiLife is promoted as a non-toxic insect-repellent finish designed to remain effective for the life of the garment. SolarShield fabrics provide ultraviolet protection, while AquaDry and AquaDry Stretch are used for waterproof and breathable garments. Other features associated with Craghoppers include lightweight construction, stretch materials, quick-drying Wash & Wear fabrics, breathable textiles and concealed security pockets. Selected products use licensed Gore-Tex waterproof technology where they meet the relevant standards. The Kiwi walking-trouser range is one of Craghoppers’ most recognizable product families and has reportedly sold more than 10 million pairs. The range helped establish the brand among walkers and outdoor consumers seeking durable, practical trousers for everyday use as well as travel. In 2008, Craghoppers entered a partnership with survival expert Bear Grylls and produced extreme-condition clothing associated with his activities. The brand has also developed conservation and heritage partnerships, including work with the European Outdoor Conservation Association, English Heritage and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. Craghoppers has increasingly connected its outdoor proposition with environmental and conservation themes. It joined the European Outdoor Conservation Association in 2013 and introduced a fleece made from recycled plastic bottles in 2015. Its work with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund included supplying clothing kits to field teams in Rwanda’s Virunga rainforest and selling Dian Fossey-branded T-shirts to raise awareness and funds. The brand remains an active participant in the outdoor apparel market, positioned around practical performance, travel utility, technical fabrics and relatively accessible pricing rather than highly specialized expedition equipment.

Craghoppers traces its origins to G & H Products, founded in Batley, West Riding of Yorkshire, in 1965 by Brian Gaskin and Roy Holmes. The founders were active outdoor enthusiasts whose experience in walking, climbing and potholing informed the company’s focus on functional garments. G & H Products became one of the early users of nylon in outdoor clothing, at a time when synthetic materials were increasingly being adopted for their lightness, durability and resistance to moisture. The founders gained early recognition for design work, particularly the Cagjac. Their reputation for practical outdoor garments led to an approach from the mountaineering expedition team associated with Chris Bonington. The company designed specialist weather clothing for the successful 1975 Everest Expedition, with Brian Gaskin personally designing the garments. The expedition connection increased the company’s profile and helped it secure additional capital for growth. Following the Everest-related success, G & H Products expanded its activities through cooperation with the Clarke brothers, who manufactured walking trousers and breeches. The Craghoppers brand had originally been created by the Clarke brothers. G & H Products later acquired the brand and retained its name, creating the identity under which the business became better known in the outdoor clothing market. The company subsequently went through periods of financial pressure and changes in ownership. In 1995, the Regatta Group acquired Craghoppers. The acquisition placed the brand within a larger private outdoor-clothing group while allowing it to continue operating under its established name. Craghoppers developed a broad range serving men, women and children, covering clothing, footwear, rucksacks, luggage and accessories. Its collections are organized around two principal annual seasons. Spring/summer products include lighter garments such as shorts, T-shirts and sandals, while autumn/winter products include insulated jackets and other cold-weather clothing. Alongside conventional outdoor apparel, the company developed a travel-oriented offer that emphasized quick drying, low maintenance, hidden security storage and lightweight construction. Technical fabric systems became an important part of the brand’s identity. NosiLife was developed as a long-lasting, non-toxic insect-repellent treatment for clothing. SolarShield fabrics were promoted for ultraviolet protection, with garments rated at up to UPF 40 and described as blocking more than 97.5 percent of ultraviolet radiation. AquaDry and AquaDry Stretch were used for waterproof and breathable garments, while Wash & Wear fabrics were designed to dry quickly and require little ironing. Craghoppers also sold products using Gore-Tex waterproof technology where the garments met the relevant licensing and performance requirements. The Kiwi walking trousers became a particularly successful product line, with more than 10 million pairs reportedly sold. Their popularity reinforced Craghoppers’ association with walking and practical everyday outdoor clothing. In 2008, the brand partnered with Bear Grylls to produce clothing for extreme conditions. This partnership extended Craghoppers’ visibility beyond traditional walking consumers and connected it with survival and adventure media. Conservation and heritage partnerships became another part of the company’s public activity. Craghoppers joined the European Outdoor Conservation Association in 2013. It also worked with English Heritage, sponsoring the Stonehenge Cycle Challenge and the Hadrian’s Wall Hike. In addition, the company partnered with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, supplying clothing kits for field workers in Rwanda’s Virunga rainforest and selling Dian Fossey T-shirts to support awareness and fundraising. In February 2015, Craghoppers introduced a fleece made from recycled plastic bottles. This initiative complemented its conservation partnerships and reflected a broader effort to connect outdoor clothing with resource-conscious materials. The brand remains based in Manchester and continues to operate as an active British outdoor clothing business within the Regatta Group.

1. 2015Recycled-plastic-bottle fleece introduced

   The brand introduces a fleece made from recycled plastic bottles.

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2. 2013Membership of the European Outdoor Conservation Association

   Craghoppers joins the European Outdoor Conservation Association.

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3. 2008Bear Grylls partnership

   Craghoppers begins a partnership with Bear Grylls and develops clothing for extreme outdoor conditions.

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4. 1995Acquisition by the Regatta Group

   The Regatta Group acquires Craghoppers after the business has faced financial difficulties and ownership changes.

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5. 1975Weather clothing designed for the Everest Expedition

   G & H Products designs specialized weather clothing for the successful Everest expedition led by the mountaineering team associated with Chris Bonington.

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6. 1965G & H Products is founded

   Brian Gaskin and Roy Holmes establish the outdoor clothing business in Batley, West Riding of Yorkshire.

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Practical, technology-led outdoor and travel clothing for walking, trekking, everyday adventure and travel, with an emphasis on utility, weather protection, comfort and accessible performance.

• KiwiWalking trousers

  Kiwi is Craghoppers’ best-known walking-trouser family. It is associated with durable, practical trousers for rambling, travel and everyday outdoor use. The range helped establish the brand among British walking consumers and has reportedly sold more than 10 million pairs.

• NosiLifeInsect-protection clothing

  NosiLife is a Craghoppers clothing technology using a non-toxic anti-insect finish designed to remain effective for the lifetime of the garment. It is used particularly in travel and warm-weather clothing, where insect protection is an important part of the product proposition.

• SolarShieldUV-protection clothing

  SolarShield is a fabric system promoted for ultraviolet protection. Craghoppers describes relevant garments as offering protection of up to UPF 40 and blocking more than 97.5 percent of ultraviolet radiation.

• AquaDry and AquaDry StretchWaterproof and breathable clothing

  AquaDry and AquaDry Stretch are waterproof and breathable fabric systems used in outdoor garments. The Stretch variant adds flexibility for movement, making the technology suitable for walking, trekking and active travel apparel.

• Wash & WearTravel clothing

  Wash & Wear fabrics are designed for travel and low-maintenance use. They are intended to dry overnight and require little or no ironing, addressing the practical needs of consumers packing light or washing clothing while traveling.

• Recycled-plastic-bottle fleeceFleece clothing2015

  Introduced in 2015, this fleece used recycled plastic bottles as a material input. The product connected Craghoppers’ outdoor apparel offer with its conservation and environmental messaging.

• 2008Bear Grylls partnership

  United Kingdom · International markets

  Craghoppers partnered with survival expert Bear Grylls to create and promote clothing intended for extreme outdoor conditions.

  Outcome. The partnership broadened the brand’s association with survival, adventure and technically demanding outdoor activity.

  Source
• English Heritage outdoor-event partnerships

  United Kingdom

  Craghoppers partnered with English Heritage and sponsored the Stonehenge Cycle Challenge and the Hadrian’s Wall Hike.

  Outcome. The activities connected the brand with walking, cycling, heritage sites and outdoor participation in England.

  Source
• Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund partnership

  United Kingdom · Rwanda · International markets

  Craghoppers supported the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International by supplying clothing kits to field teams working in Rwanda’s Virunga rainforest and selling Dian Fossey T-shirts.

  Outcome. The partnership supported field operations and used branded merchandise to raise awareness and funds for gorilla conservation.

  Source

• 2015Launch of recycled-material fleeceProduct launch

  Craghoppers was developing conservation-related activities and environmental aspects of its product offer.

  What changed. The company introduced a fleece made from recycled plastic bottles.

  Aftermath. The product reinforced the brand’s environmental and conservation positioning.

  Source
• 2008Expansion into extreme-condition clothingStrategy

  Craghoppers sought to strengthen its association with adventure and technically demanding outdoor activity.

  What changed. The company formed a partnership with Bear Grylls and produced a range of extreme-condition clothing.

  Aftermath. The partnership increased the brand’s visibility in survival and adventure contexts.

  Source
• 1995Regatta Group acquisitionM&A

  Craghoppers had experienced financial challenges and changes in ownership before the transaction.

  What changed. The Regatta Group acquired the company and retained Craghoppers as an operating brand.

  Aftermath. The brand continued developing outdoor clothing, footwear, luggage and accessories within the Regatta Group.

  Source

• 2015Craghoppers introduces a fleece made from recycled plastic bottles

  The brand introduced a fleece manufactured using recycled plastic bottles, linking a product launch with its environmental positioning.

  Product launch
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• 2013Craghoppers joins the European Outdoor Conservation Association

  The company joined the European Outdoor Conservation Association as part of its conservation-related engagement.

  Other
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• 2008Craghoppers partners with Bear Grylls

  Craghoppers formed a partnership with survival expert Bear Grylls and produced clothing intended for extreme conditions and outdoor use.

  CampaignProduct launch
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• 1995Craghoppers acquired by the Regatta Group

  The Regatta Group acquired Craghoppers after the brand had experienced financial challenges and ownership changes.

  M&A
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1. Craghoppers