Rohan
Rohan is a British outdoor and travel-clothing brand known for lightweight, quick-drying, packable and technically focused garments.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Rohan is a British designer, retailer and supplier of outdoor, travel and lightweight technical clothing and footwear. The company was founded in 1972 by research chemist Paul Howcroft and his wife, Sarah, after the couple met in Scotland. They began with approximately £70 of start-up capital and operated from a small house in Skipton, Yorkshire, a location chosen partly for its proximity to the textile mills of West Yorkshire. Rohan’s first product was a pair of quick-drying mountaineering salopettes, establishing the practical, performance-oriented approach that has remained central to the brand. The company developed clothing intended to reduce weight and improve usefulness for travel and outdoor activity. Its products have included trousers, shirts, jackets, fleeces, hats, socks, footwear and travel bags. Rohan has also used fabrics designed to provide properties such as quick drying, mosquito resistance, ultraviolet protection, thermal insulation, waterproofing and breathability. Rather than treating fashion styling as its primary differentiator, the brand has generally emphasized practicality, durability, comfort and versatility across changing conditions. It introduced a climate-zone rating system to help customers assess the suitability of garments for different environments. Rohan gained early mountaineering visibility in 1978, when one of its jacket designs was worn by Austrian climber Peter Habeler during the first successful ascent of Mount Everest without bottled oxygen. The company subsequently expanded its lightweight travel offering, including the Rohan Bags line, which remained part of the range. Its technical proposition later included proprietary fabric development. The Barricade fabric and garment collection were created to combine high waterproofing and breathability with wind resistance, lightweight construction and packability, and were aimed at serious outdoor users as well as travelers seeking dependable weather protection. Ownership and management changed several times. After a period of decline during the 1980s, the Howcrofts lost control of the business in the aftermath of the 1992 Black Wednesday financial crisis. Rohan was owned by Clarks from 1988 until a management buyout. Paul Howcroft died in a recreational motoring accident in 1993, aged 42, after he and Sarah had separated. In 2007, the Cann Trust and Colin Fisher took control of the company after its acquisition from Piper Private Equity. The new leadership sought to simplify management and improve the product range, while also pursuing technical innovation through the Barricade programme. The business experienced pressure during the recession. It recorded an operating loss in 2009, but subsequently returned to operating profitability, reporting an operating profit of £384,000 two years later on turnover of £17.9 million, according to the cited company history. In 2016, Rohan Designs Ltd was acquired by H. Young Holdings. The H. Young Group operates in automotive and sports and leisure businesses and has also owned brands including Madison, Animal and Leeda. Rohan has operated a network of branded stores alongside other sales channels. The company’s store estate contracted during the COVID-19 pandemic and its broader retail restructuring: branches in Leeds and Tunbridge Wells closed in November 2020, Brighton closed in April 2021, and Truro closed in September 2022. The brand continues to be associated with British outdoor and travel apparel, with products designed in Milton Keynes and manufactured internationally. Publicly available reference material does not establish a complete current store count, current turnover, present executive roster or a standalone official website, so those details are not asserted here.
History
Rohan began in 1972 in Skipton, Yorkshire, when research chemists Paul Howcroft and Sarah Howcroft established a small clothing business with around £70. Their proximity to West Yorkshire textile mills supported the development of the company’s first product, quick-drying mountaineering salopettes. From the outset, Rohan concentrated on functional clothing for outdoor activity and travel rather than conventional fashion collections. The brand’s profile increased in 1978 when Austrian climber Peter Habeler wore one of its jackets during the first ascent of Mount Everest without bottled oxygen. The exposure helped reinforce Rohan’s association with lightweight, technically capable clothing. The company then introduced a broader lightweight travel range, including Rohan Bags, and expanded into clothing designed for different climates and activities. During the 1980s, the business entered a period of decline. The Howcrofts subsequently lost control of the company in the aftermath of the 1992 Black Wednesday financial crisis. Rohan was owned by Clarks from 1988, before a management buyout returned it to independent management. Paul Howcroft died in a recreational motoring accident in 1993, aged 42, after the couple had separated. In 2007, the Cann Trust and Colin Fisher took control of Rohan following its acquisition from Piper Private Equity. They worked to simplify the management structure and improve the range. Under Roger Cann’s leadership, the company also commissioned development of a proprietary high-performance fabric. The resulting Barricade material and garments were designed to provide waterproofing, breathability and wind protection while retaining the lightweight, packable character associated with Rohan. The recession created additional financial pressure. Rohan recorded an operating loss of £400,000 in 2009, but the business later recovered, reporting an operating profit of £384,000 two years afterward and turnover of £17.9 million. These figures are historical and should not be treated as current financial information. In 2016, Rohan Designs Ltd was acquired by H. Young Holdings. The acquirer’s wider group had interests in automotive and sports and leisure, including brands identified in the reference material as Madison, Animal and Leeda. Rohan therefore became part of a broader sports and outdoor portfolio while retaining its established brand identity. The company’s retail network subsequently contracted. In November 2020, the Leeds and Tunbridge Wells stores closed permanently, with the pandemic contributing to the circumstances. Brighton followed in April 2021, and the Truro standalone branch closed in September 2022. Rohan’s products have been designed in Milton Keynes and manufactured internationally. Its documented range spans technical outerwear, travel clothing, trousers, shirts, fleeces, accessories, footwear and bags, with emphasis on utility, low weight, packability and protection from weather and environmental conditions.
- 2022
Truro store closes
[1]The Truro standalone branch closes permanently in September.
- 2021
Brighton store closes
[1]The Brighton branch closes permanently in April.
- 2020
Leeds and Tunbridge Wells stores close
[1]Two stores close permanently in November, partly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2016
Acquisition by H. Young Holdings
[1]H. Young Holdings acquires Rohan Designs Ltd and adds it to its sports and outdoor interests.
- 2011
Return to operating profit
[1]Two years after the reported loss, Rohan records an operating profit of £384,000 on turnover of £17.9 million.
- 2009
Operating loss during recession
[1]Rohan records a reported operating loss of £400,000 during the recession.
- 2007
Cann Trust and Colin Fisher take control
[1]The company changes control after its acquisition from Piper Private Equity and begins a management and product-range improvement programme.
- 1992
Founders lose control after financial difficulties
[1]The Howcrofts lose control of the company following a period of decline associated with the early-1990s financial crisis.
- 1988
Clarks ownership begins
[1]Rohan enters a period of ownership by Clarks before a later management buyout.
- 1978
Rohan jacket reaches Everest
[1]Peter Habeler wears a Rohan jacket during the first successful ascent of Mount Everest without bottled oxygen.
Products and positioning
A practical, technically oriented British outdoor and travel brand focused on lightweight construction, packability, weather protection, comfort, durability and multi-climate use rather than fashion-led styling.
Travel bags
Rohan Bags
Rohan Bags form part of the brand’s lightweight travel offer introduced after its early mountaineering products. They are associated with the company’s emphasis on practical travel equipment, low weight and versatility, and are identified in the reference material as a continuing product line.
Technical outdoor apparel
Barricade
Barricade is a proprietary fabric and garment collection developed through Rohan’s post-2007 innovation programme. It was designed to combine high waterproofing and breathability with wind resistance, while preserving lightweight construction and packability. The collection targeted demanding outdoor use and customers seeking weather protection without excessive bulk.
Travel apparel · 1978
Lightweight travel clothing
Rohan’s lightweight travel range includes clothing designed for easy packing, quick drying and use across varied climates. The range has included trousers, shirts, jackets and other garments made with fabrics offering properties such as ultraviolet protection and mosquito resistance. Practical performance and versatility are prioritized over fashion-led styling.
Mountaineering apparel · 1972
Mountaineering salopettes
The company’s first documented product was a pair of quick-drying salopettes designed for mountaineering. This early product established Rohan’s focus on technical utility, moisture management and reduced weight for outdoor users.
Outdoor accessories
Outdoor accessories and footwear
The broader Rohan range has included thermal fleeces, hats, socks and shoes alongside its main clothing lines. These products extend the brand’s technical approach into layering, climate protection and everyday outdoor use.
Brand decisions
2020
Reduce the retail store networkStrategyBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic placed pressure on physical retail, contributing to changes in Rohan’s store estate.
Action taken
Rohan permanently closed its Leeds and Tunbridge Wells stores in November 2020, followed by Brighton in 2021 and Truro in 2022.
Aftermath
The documented closures reduced the company’s standalone retail presence in several UK locations.
2016
Rohan Designs joins H. Young HoldingsM&ABackground
Rohan was operating in the outdoor and travel clothing sector and H. Young Holdings was expanding its sports and outdoor interests.
Action taken
H. Young Holdings acquired Rohan Designs Ltd.
Aftermath
Rohan became part of the H. Young Group’s broader sports and leisure portfolio.
2007
Simplify management and improve the product rangeStrategyBackground
After taking control of Rohan from Piper Private Equity, the Cann Trust and Colin Fisher faced a business that had experienced decline and needed clearer management and product development priorities.
Action taken
Management simplified the organizational structure and sought to strengthen the product range, including commissioning development of a proprietary technical fabric.
Aftermath
The programme led to the Barricade technical collection and was followed by a return from a reported 2009 operating loss to reported operating profit two years later.
Recent events
- 2022
Rohan closes Truro store[1]
Other
The Truro branch, which had operated as a standalone store since 2017, closed permanently in September.
- 2021
Rohan closes Brighton store[1]
Other
The Brighton branch was permanently closed in April after approximately three years of trading.
- 2020
Rohan closes Leeds and Tunbridge Wells stores[1]
Other
Two Rohan stores, in Leeds and Tunbridge Wells, were permanently closed in November, with the COVID-19 pandemic cited as part of the business context.
- 2016
H. Young Holdings acquires Rohan Designs[1]
M&A
Rohan Designs Ltd was acquired by H. Young Holdings as part of the group’s expansion in sports and outdoor businesses.
Rohan develops Barricade technical fabric collection[1]
Product launch
Following the 2007 change in control, Rohan pursued a technical innovation programme that produced Barricade, a proprietary fabric and garment collection designed to combine waterproofing, breathability and wind resistance.
Sources1 sources
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