The Kingpin was the brainchild of Tim Petros, a design engineer and photographer extraordinaire.  During Tim's childhood, his father showed him the trick to making a beanie from an old wool felt hat.  Nostalgic reverie thrust Tim into the designer beanie business in 1987. Click on the pictures below to read Style Magazine's 2-page interview with Tim on how The Kingpin business got started:

After designing and test marketing The Kingpin in 1987, full scale production began in 1988. Tim attended industry trade shows to promote his nostalgic product to a new audience of prospective retailers. Below is an example of the original advertising used in trade publications:

Tim's persistence paid off. The Kingpin hat with unique trademark bottle cap pin was noticed by CBS-TV producers and was slotted for a segment on their new children's invention show "Dr. Fad". The Kingpin made its debut on national TV in September 1988 and was a "huge hit". With the free publicity in such fashion magazines as In Fashion and Sassy that followed, orders rolled in from upscale retailers across the US. Although originally designed for kids, the designer beanie became widely popular with teens and adults as well- both male and female.

At the height of its popularity in the 1990's, the Kingpin was sold at exclusive boutiques and mail-order houses including:

CAMP BEVERLY HILLS, Los Angeles

FRED SEGAL, Los Angeles

AMERICAN RAG COMPANY, Los Angeles

BOY OF LONDON, Los Angeles

ARIAL, San Francisco

LITTLE RICKIE, New York City

SERENDIPITY, New York City

WHAT ON EARTH, National gift catalog

The Kingpin was originally manufactured in many different colors(now only available in the 2 most popular colors: red and black). Click on the pictures below to see a larger view of some of the original Kingpins:

In 1996, due to the bustling schedule of a new interactive photography venture, Tim decided it was time for a change.  

Tim turned the business over to a childhood buddy, Tom Owen.  Tom has spent over 25 years in the computer industry, and used this new business venture to advance his creativity for the eggheads of the world. In conjunction with the engineering of the first Kingpin retrofitted with a propeller, Tom redefined geek culture, and has been called the "Chuck Yeager" of beanie avionics.

"The Boss"

CLICK HERE to order your beanie today!

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