Regatta

Regatta is a British outdoor clothing and equipment brand headquartered in Manchester. It serves adults and children with practical apparel and accessories designed for walking, leisure, travel, family outdoor activities and everyday wet-weather use. Its range includes waterproof and breathable jackets, fleeces, trousers, footwear and camping equipment, positioning the brand toward accessible, functional outdoor products rather than highly technical expedition gear. The brand's origins are connected to Lionel Black's purchase of the small workwear business Risol Products in 1977. Black began developing the Regatta name in 1981, and the company adopted the name Regatta Ltd in 1996. This progression turned an established workwear operation into a consumer-facing outdoor brand. Regatta subsequently expanded its distribution through major outdoor retail chains, its own stores and concessions, and e-commerce channels. A notable retail expansion came in 2007, when Regatta acquired the Hawkshead outdoor clothing stores. The chain was later closed in 2011, indicating a move away from maintaining that particular retail format while the wider brand continued to be sold through multiple channels. Regatta's group structure also broadened its market coverage. Regatta Group includes Regatta Great Outdoors, Craghoppers, Dare2b and Regatta Professional, giving the privately owned group a portfolio spanning consumer outdoor clothing, technical and performance-oriented products, and workwear or corporate clothing. Regatta has developed product extensions intended to add convenience and visibility to conventional outdoor apparel. In 2019 it introduced battery-operated heated jackets. In 2021 it launched Brite Light products, including jackets and hats with integrated torches. These lines show the brand's use of practical features aimed at consumers who spend time outdoors in cold, dark or changeable conditions. The brand also uses licensed and celebrity-led activity to reach family and lifestyle audiences. Its first licensed partnership was with Peppa Pig, launched in early 2021 with children's waterproof jackets, puddlesuits, wellington boots, fleeces and related garments. Past or recent promotional figures associated with the women's and lifestyle side of the brand have included Kimberley Walsh, Alesha Dixon, Vogue Williams, Rochelle Humes, Josie Gibson and Giovanna Fletcher. Cricketer and broadcaster Andrew Flintoff has been associated with the men's offering. These relationships complement Regatta's retail-led distribution by presenting the brand as approachable, family-oriented and suitable for everyday outdoor life. Regatta's international growth was recognized with the Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade in both 2012 and 2013. The awards reflected the company's expansion outside the United Kingdom. Regatta remains an active brand within the privately owned Regatta Group, selling outdoor clothing and equipment through retail, concessions and online channels.

Regatta's corporate origins date to 1977, when Lionel Black acquired Risol Products, a small workwear company. Black began developing the Regatta brand in 1981, shifting the business toward consumer outdoor clothing and equipment. The company formally changed its name to Regatta Ltd in 1996, marking the consolidation of the Regatta identity as the operating company's principal name. The brand's subsequent development combined product expansion with broader distribution. Regatta products became available through major outdoor retail chains, the company's own stores and concessions, and e-commerce. This multi-channel model allowed the brand to reach consumers seeking accessible clothing for walking, leisure and general outdoor use, while maintaining a presence beyond specialist technical-outdoor retailers. In 2007, Regatta acquired the Hawkshead outdoor clothing stores. The retail chain was closed in 2011. Although the Hawkshead format did not continue, Regatta's broader brand and wholesale distribution remained active. The company continued to operate within a privately owned group that also included Regatta Great Outdoors, Craghoppers, Dare2b and Regatta Professional. This group structure placed the Regatta consumer brand alongside other outdoor and workwear businesses. International expansion became an important part of the company's development. Regatta received the Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade in 2012 and again in 2013, recognition associated with its growth in overseas markets. The brand's international presence has been supported by retail partnerships, concessions and online sales, although the available reference material does not provide a detailed country-by-country market breakdown. Regatta has periodically added practical product features to its established outdoorwear categories. In 2019, it introduced battery-operated heated jackets. In 2021, the Brite Light range added integrated torches to jackets and hats, giving selected garments a visibility and utility function for outdoor use in low-light conditions. These launches extended the brand beyond basic waterproof and fleece apparel without changing its broad, accessible positioning. The company has also pursued family licensing and personality-led marketing. Its first licensed partnership was with Peppa Pig, launched in early 2021. The resulting children's range included waterproof jackets, puddlesuits, wellington boots, fleeces and other garments. Regatta has worked with several public figures across women's, men's and lifestyle communications, including Kimberley Walsh, Alesha Dixon, Vogue Williams, Rochelle Humes, Josie Gibson, Giovanna Fletcher and Andrew Flintoff. The reference material identifies Giovanna Fletcher as the women's ambassador and Andrew Flintoff as the men's ambassador at the time described, but does not establish current appointment dates. Regatta remains an active Manchester-based outdoor clothing brand within the privately owned Regatta Group. Its core business continues to cover weather-resistant apparel, fleece, trousers, footwear and camping equipment for men, women and children, distributed through retail and digital channels.

• 2021

  Brite Light range launched

  [1]Regatta (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  Regatta launched Brite Light jackets and hats with integrated torches.

• 2021

  First Peppa Pig licensed partnership

  [1]Regatta (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  Regatta launched its first licensed partnership with Peppa Pig for children's outdoor clothing.

• 2019

  Battery-operated heated jackets introduced

  [1]Regatta (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  Regatta added battery-operated heated jackets to its outdoorwear range.

• 2013

  Second Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade

  [1]Regatta (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  The company received the international-trade award for a second consecutive year.

• 2012

  Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade

  [1]Regatta (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  Regatta received the Queen's Award for Enterprise in recognition of international trade and overseas growth.

• 2011

  Hawkshead stores close

  [1]Regatta (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  The Hawkshead store chain acquired by Regatta was closed.

• 2007

  Acquisition of Hawkshead outdoor clothing stores

  [1]Regatta (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  Regatta acquired the Hawkshead outdoor clothing store chain.

• 1996

  Company adopts the name Regatta Ltd

  [1]Regatta (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  The company changed its name to Regatta Ltd.

• 1981

  Development of the Regatta brand begins

  [1]Regatta (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  Black began developing Regatta as an outdoor clothing brand within the acquired workwear business.

• 1977

  Lionel Black acquires Risol Products

  [1]Regatta (clothing)en.wikipedia.org

  Lionel Black purchased the small workwear company Risol Products, the business from which the later Regatta brand developed.

Accessible, practical outdoor clothing and equipment for adults and children, with an emphasis on everyday outdoor use, weather protection, family activities and broad retail availability.

• Outerwear

  Waterproof and breathable jackets

  Regatta's outerwear includes waterproof and breathable jackets designed for wet and changeable weather. They form a central part of the brand's practical outdoor proposition and are sold for men, women and children.

• Mid-layer apparel

  Fleeces

  Fleece garments provide lightweight warmth for outdoor activities and everyday wear. Regatta offers fleece products across adult and children's ranges.

• Outdoor apparel

  Trousers

  Regatta trousers are part of its general outdoor clothing assortment, supporting walking, leisure and practical day-to-day use.

• Footwear

  Outdoor footwear

  The brand's footwear offering complements its clothing ranges for outdoor and wet-weather activities.

• Outdoor equipment

  Camping equipment

  Regatta also sells camping equipment, extending its assortment from apparel into equipment for leisure and outdoor trips.

• Technical outerwear · 2019

  Heated jackets

  Introduced in 2019, Regatta's heated jackets use battery-operated heating functionality to provide additional warmth in cold outdoor conditions.

• Light-integrated outdoorwear · 2021

  Brite Light

  Launched in 2021, Brite Light includes jackets and hats with built-in torches, combining outdoor apparel with a low-light visibility and utility feature.

• Licensed children's apparel · 2021

  Peppa Pig children's outdoorwear

  The licensed children's range includes waterproof jackets, puddlesuits, wellington boots, fleeces and other garments featuring the Peppa Pig partnership.

• 2022Josie Gibson style edit

  United Kingdom

  Josie Gibson curated a women's style edit for Regatta's third season in spring 2022.

  Source
• 2021Peppa Pig licensed partnership

  United Kingdom · International markets

  Regatta launched its first licensed partnership with Peppa Pig, using the character to develop a family-oriented children's outdoorwear range.

  Outcome. The partnership produced waterproof jackets, puddlesuits, wellington boots, fleeces and other children's garments.

  Source
• 2021Rochelle Humes jacket collection

  United Kingdom

  Television presenter Rochelle Humes launched a Regatta collection of eight jackets in September 2021.

  Source
• Celebrity ambassador programme

  United Kingdom

  Regatta has used celebrity ambassadors and collaborators across women's, men's and lifestyle communications. Associated names have included Kimberley Walsh, Alesha Dixon, Vogue Williams, Giovanna Fletcher and Andrew Flintoff.

  Source

• 2021

  Launch the Brite Light rangeProduct launch

  Background

  Regatta developed products combining outdoor clothing with practical visibility and illumination features.

  Action taken

  The Brite Light range introduced jackets and hats with integrated torches.

  Source

• 2021

  Launch the Peppa Pig licensed rangeProduct launch

  Background

  Regatta pursued a family and children's market opportunity through its first licensed partnership.

  Action taken

  The brand launched Peppa Pig children's outdoor garments, including waterproof jackets, puddlesuits, wellington boots and fleeces.

  Source

• 2019

  Launch battery-operated heated jacketsProduct launch

  Background

  Regatta sought to extend its outdoorwear proposition with additional cold-weather functionality.

  Action taken

  The brand introduced jackets incorporating battery-operated heating.

  Source

• 2007

  Acquire the Hawkshead outdoor clothing storesM&A

  Background

  Regatta expanded into owned retail by acquiring the Hawkshead outdoor clothing stores.

  Action taken

  The company purchased the Hawkshead store chain.

  Aftermath

  The stores were closed in 2011; the available material does not state the financial terms or detailed strategic rationale.

  Source

• 2020.07.06

  Reported2020.07.06

  Hasbro and Regatta partner on Peppa Pig outdoor collection[2]孩之宝与Regatta合作推出小猪佩奇户外系列licensing.biz

  Hasbro announced a partnership with Regatta for a Peppa Pig outerwear and leisure accessories collection planned to launch in spring/summer 2021 across the UK and Europe. The collection is also planned for sale through Regatta stores and its e-commerce site, as well as specialist outdoor retailers.

Read more

1. 1Regatta (clothing)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2孩之宝与Regatta合作推出小猪佩奇户外系列licensing.biz