LIDS goes old school for 20-year anniversary

LIDS is celebrating 20 years of retail innovation with the launch of a new headwear line that will take customers back to the 1990s.

Available at select stores throughout North America and on LIDS.com, the 20th Anniversary Platinum Collection will feature a selection of limited edition (1,995 units) fashion hats inspired by popular designs from the past 20 years. The first style in the series, the Flawless cap, was originally launched in 2003 as part of a collection inspired by recording star Fred Durst of the band Limp Bizkit.

At the time, The Flawless Collection was the first collaboration by New Era with a musician for a cap collection. The cap featured an offset minimized logo on the left front panel. The LIDS 20th Anniversary edition of the Flawless cap incorporates the original design aesthetics, but reimagined as a snapback.

"We've enjoyed quite a ride over the last two decades. We are fortunate to have our co-founders, Scott Molander and Glenn Campbell, still involved in our day to day business that has taken us from our humble beginnings as an unknown retail model to one of the largest omni-commerce sports fan retailers in the United States and Canada," said Ken Kocher, president of LIDS Sports Group. "LIDS is prepped for the next 20 years and beyond; at the ready with the apparel, headwear and novelty items that fans want – any team, any time, any where."

Hat World Inc. first introduced its then-untried headwear-only retail concept to the world back in November 1995. Twenty years later, LIDS has helped create a permanent niche in specialty retail and evolved into a destination for sports fans and enthusiasts of street fashion.

LIDS also will be launching several Championship Series headwear lines that recreate the official Locker Room hats for each NBA, NHL, MLB and NFL championship dating back to 1995. Fans can expect the Championship lines to become available, by leagues, throughout the year.

Currently LIDS operates more than 1,350 mall-based, airport, street level and factory outlet locations nationwide, and in Canada and Puerto Rico.