Taranaki entrepreneur creates charm-holding hats for kids

Bolt Ready Player 1 owner Levi Mcphee (left) with Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Janelle Jones.

When Taranaki’s Levi Mcphee was left couch-bound by a freak accident which occurred while he was playing rugby, he spent a lot of time thinking.

One day, just over two years ago, an idea came to him that he figured “could revolutionise kids’ fashion forever” – designer hats that can hold charms, like those often used to decorate Crocs.

“Seeing a gap in the market for trendy, interactive kids’ headwear, I knew it was time to bring this vision to life.”

Once he had come up with that idea, he started his business Bolt Ready Player 1 in November, and now he sells the hats in seven different colours.

Levi Mcphee's daughter Bree, 5, modelling one of the hats he sells.

“What sets our caps apart is their charm-holding design, allowing kids to express themselves by customising their caps with various Jibbitz. It’s not just a cap – it’s a platform for creativity and individuality.”

Mcphee said creating the product was an exciting process, with every detail from the colours to the charm slots inspired by Croc footwear.

“We bought the foot value to the face value, which made perfect sense in a marketing strategy so kids could showcase their favourite Jibbitz, not just on their Crocs but now on their caps.”

He said the future of the company is about growth, collaboration and giving back to the community.

“We aim to inspire other entrepreneurs in Taranaki to pursue their dreams and unleash their creativity. As we move forward, we’re excited to introduce more innovative designs, expand our reach beyond New Plymouth, and establish ourselves as a leader in children’s headwear fashion.”