With heritage dating back to the 1250's and the world-renowed Kalmus tanning method, which earned a royal signet in 1684, the company was officially founded in 1811. This makes RHANDERS the oldest and finest glove-maker in the world - still designing, innovating, and crafting the most exquisite products for kings, queens, and connoisseurs.

Read more about RHANDERS and the history here.

Since 1811, only five families have owned what today is know as RHANDERS. Over the years, the glove factory has been passed down through generations, with each family contributing to the legacy of craftsmanship and expertise. The most recent family has led the company for three generations and continues to bring their world-renown expertise to every RHANDERS product.

Ownership through the years:

• 1811-1817: The Kellermann family
• 1817 -1893: The Mattat family
• 1893-1927: The Thomsen family
• 1927-2018: The Vejrum family
• 2018-present: The Hansen family

Today, the Hansen family is shaping the next chapter of RHANDERS, bringing the heritage brand into a new era. As CEO and owner Rina Hansen states: "RHANDERS is Denmark's oldest trademark. For more than 200 years, RHANDERS has combined classic design with an incomparable cultural heritage. As responsible heirs, we undertake to cherish and honour the proud history as honoured glove makers.".

You can read more about the five families and the history of RHANDERS here.

Today, RHANDERS is owned by CEO Rina Hansen and COO Isabella Rask Nygaard.

In 2019, Rina Hansen officially took over the company after an 11-year succession process, continuing RHANDERS' proud legacy as a family-owned business since 1811. The Hansen family became the fifth generation of owners in the brand's history.

Since taking over, Rina Hansen has been focused on bringing RHANDERS into next generation while safeguarding and innovating the brand's honoured craftsmanship and heritage.

As Rina Hansen explained,"Safeguarding RHANDERS, it’s unique heritage and craftsmanship has become my life mission.".

In 2024, COO Isabella Rask Nygaard became co-owner of the heritage brand, joining the next chapter of RHANDERS' journey.

The Kalmus flower was brought to the banks of Gudenåen in Randers, Denmark, by French Franciscan monks, who planted the flower along the river.

The city's tanners soon discovered the remarkable properties of the plant. Not only did it neutralise the strong odour from the tanning process, but left the most beautiful aroma in the hides.

With its distinctive aroma, carrying notes of citrus and cinnamon, the Kalmus flower became closely associated with the exceptional quality of gloves from Randers. Combined with their softness, this unique scent led European royalty to request gloves from Randers through the Danish Royal Court.

Today, the Kalmus flower remains our brandmark and can be found on all RHANDERS products - a testament to our cultural heritage, craftsmanship, and Danish design.

You can read more about the Kalmus flower as our brandmark and about the wonderful aroma of the Kalmus flower.

RHANDERS proudly designs and crafts selected products at our own atelier in Randers, Denmark, where everything is developed based on more than 200 years of glove-making expertise.

We continuously invest in rebuilding and strengthening production in Denmark to preserve traditional craftsmanship and maintain full control of quality and techniques refined over centuries.

In parallel, we collaborate with esteemed glove makers in Europe and India, with whom we have worked closely for more than 30 years. This allows us to uphold the highest standards of craftsmanship while staying true to our heritage.

At the same time, we support Danish craftsmanship wherever possible. Our knitwear is produced in Denmark by one of the last remaining specialised knitters, and our caps are crafted in Denmark by the country’s only dedicated cap maker.

Explore our Made in Denmark collection.

RHANDERS has supplied gloves and leather goods to royal families for centuries. Since 2000, RHANDERS has carried the title of Purveyor to the Royal Danish Court. To this day, RHANDERS continues to proudly glove Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II and Her Majesty Queen Mary as well as the entire royal family.

Likewise, RHANDERS continues to design and make gloves for the Royal Navy, the SWAT team, the police, and the Royal Life Guard.

Find out much more about RHANDERS’ heritage here.

Though there has never been a company called Randers Handsker, "Gloves from Randers" or "Randers Gloves" ("Randers Handsker" in Danish) has for centuries been labelling the popular gloves originating from Randers.

The “Randers Handsker” label is still being lovingly crafted today. It is the original glove brand – known for its unchanged quality, fit, and craftsmanship for more than 200 years.

Armed with a mission of safeguarding and innovating 800 years of honoured gloving and leather craftsmanship, the new owners updated the company’s name to RHANDERS in 2019. A name with deep roots in heritage and history. Firstly, to legally protect and trademark the brand and secondly to rebuild the premium lifestyle brand.

Today, RHANDERS has revived its atelier production in Randers, Denmark and is known for the finest craftsmanship in gloves, bags, belts, scarves, and knitwear - and is taking the first steps in revitalising the clothing collection, responsibly crafted in Denmark according to the original values, traditions, and artisanship.