Brand & Industry

This category collects the background reading behind our products. It starts with the balaclava itself: where the name comes from (the town of Balaklava in Crimea), how a piece of 19th-century military kit became everyday winter wear and street fashion, and why the same garment is called a ski mask in America, a balaclava in Britain and a "shiesty" in today's slang.

It also looks at the wider market. Our ski wear articles map brands by price and performance and compare what buyers need by region and climate, which helps retailers and new labels decide where their range should sit before they brief a factory.

Finally, it explains who we are: Mr Balaclava is a headwear and ski wear manufacturer in Sialkot, Pakistan, making balaclavas, beanies, caps, scarves, socks and ski wear for brands under their own label. If you are planning a range, our private label and manufacturing guides are the natural next step.