L’hood

I hate umbrellas. Carrying them, losing them, breaking them, fighting with the wind. For the past few years on changeable days, I have preferred to wear either a hat or a coat with a hood. Being a very practical person and always leaving the house prepared for any weather phenomenon that may hit, I was delighted to recently discover a new solution for my bag (or should I say wrist!)



L’hood is a new brand created by hairdresser Elliott Taylor after he saw so many clients caught out for not having an umbrella. He started to think about a stylish, updated alternative of your grandmother’s rain bonnet, and teamed up with fashion designer David Szeto to design a contemporary, practical hat.

The Ritza (protector of people, in Greek) is the name given to the original L’hood hat and my favourite to buy on the website. It currently comes in 16 different colours and fabrics including a very stylish gingham check.



With mixed contemporary, utility inspiration taken from the feminine lines of Cristobal Balenciaga’s wedding hat designed in 1967 and a hat which actress Gene Tierney wore in Forties film noir Laura, the unisex Ritza is 100% polyester with water repellent finishing.

The clever design incorporates a snap band so the hat can be worn around your wrist or bag strap and then is easily unfolded and worn as a hat at a moment’s notice in a downpour.



To make their products mindful, as an alternative to the 1.1 billion umbrellas that are thrown away each year, L’hood are currently working to introduce a sustainable recycled membrane, recycled nylon, recycled polyester and bio cotton, as well as already using biodegradable, plant-based packaging, hang tags and metal components.

By Anna Bance
December 2022