Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Kate Middleton Named Hat Person of the Year

Congratulations to the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, who was named Hat Person of the Year by The Headwear Association (THA). In an online poll Kate received a an overwhelming 91% of the vote, beating Rachel Zoe (4%),
Ne-Yo (2%), Justin Timberlake (1%), Bruno Mars (1%) and Charlie Sheen (1%).

The Headwear Association (THA) was founded in 1908 and is the oldest fashion trade association in the industry. The THA's mission is to promote hat wearing and the headwear industry throughout the world and foster goodwill and fellowship among those engaged in the headwear industry.

This is the third annual Hat Person of the Year award, previous winners include Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt.

We present some of the Duchess's most extraordinary hat fashions of 2011. Our favorites are the stunning velvet cabernet hat by Rose Cory that Kate wore this Christmas, and the exquisite maple leaf headpiece by London milliner Sylvia Fletcher of Lock & Co., established in 1676, worn on her visit to Canada.

Hats off to you Kate, your style is impeccable.



Kate was seen wearing this amazing headpiece at a Citizenship Ceremony in Quebec, Canada last July. The red, maple leaf headpiece was designed and made by Sylvia Fletcher of London milliners Lock & Co, established since 1676. Photo credit: Paul Chiasson of The Canadian Press.




On Christmas Day, Kate attended church service at Sardingham with the Royal family wearing this stunning mulled wine colored hat. The hat was designed by Jane Corbett, who was trained by Rose Cory, the Queen Mother’s milliner. Photo credit: Getty Images.




The Duchess of Cambridge looked gorgeous in this Vivien Sheriff fasincator as she attended the RNLI launch last February. Photo credit: Mark Stewart/Camera Press/Retna.



Kate was seen at a friend’s wedding last January in this chic ensemble. She wore a black ISSA dress and LibĂ©lula velvet jacket. She topped off the outfit with a black felt beret from Whiteley Fischer, a British hat manufacturer who has been in the millinery trade for more than 60 years. Photo credit: Jonathan Pow.



Not only does Kate have excellent taste in selecting her headwear, but she also dabbles in designing! Seen here at the wedding of Zara Phillips last July, Kate wore a hat she actually helped milliner Gina Foster design! Photo credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images.




Kate truly looks regal in this blue outfit she wore to the Duke of Edinburgh's 90th Birthday at Windsor Castle's St George's Chapel last June. The hat she wore was another designed by Jane Corbett, who was trained by Rose Cory, the Queen Mother’s milliner. Her perwinkle blue brocade coat is by Jane Troughton. Photo credit: Robin Bell.



The Duchess was seen here wearing a dove grey hat by Rachel Trevor-Morgan (also milliner to the Queen) at the Order of the Garter service in Windsor last June. She wore this hat with a dress and coat by Katherine Hooker. Photo credit: WPA Pool/Getty Images Europe.



Kate looked military chic at Victoria Barracks in Windsor last June to present medals to members of the Irish Guard. She wore a McQueen military style coat dress and topped it off with another hat by London-based milliner, Rachel Trevor-Morgan, who is also hat-maker to the Queen. Photo credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images.



Yeehaw! Last Summer, Kate and husband William visited Calgary Canada for some traditional festivities, including the Calgary Stampede. In true Calgary tradition, Kate was "white hatted" and presented with this beautiful white rabbit fur cowboy hat by the local milliners, Smithbilt. Photo credit: Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Headwear for the Homeless

Our highlight of 2011: The Headwear for the Homeless drive.

Here are some pictures from the event!




Mary's Shelter & Opportunity House:
















The Headwear Association in New Jersey:




The Headwear Association in Stockton, CA:












The Headwear Association in Arkansas:











Monday, December 5, 2011

The Headwear Association Sponsors Third Annual Hats for the Homeless Drive

When temperatures dip below freezing, wearing a hat is one of the best ways to help keep warm. People lose as much as 80 percent of their body heat through their head .

On Thursday, December 8th, The Headwear Association (THA), the oldest association in the hat trade, will distribute warm hats to men, women and children at homeless shelters and non-profit organizations across the country.

“This the third annual Headwear for the Homeless drive, and it is our most meaningful campaign of the year,” said Ryan Seth, President, The Headwear Association. “Over the past two years, our THA members have handed out thousands of warm knit, wool and fleece hats to disadvantaged people who truly needed them to stay warm during the winter. We are honored to do this again this year.”

“We only hope we can provide a bit of comfort this winter to those who are homeless and suffering." said Seth.

Hat companies participating in Hats for the Homeless include:

Bollman Hat Company
Reading, PA

Opportunity House (430 North 2nd Street, Reading, PA) and
Mary’s Shelter (325 South 12th Street, Reading, PA).

Bollman will be donating wool, felt, knit, and fleece beanies and caps to less fortunate men, women, and children at these two locations.

NES Enterprises (with Bollman Hats)
Paterson, NJ

Eva’s Village
393 Main Street, Paterson, NJ 07501-2815
(973) 523-6220

Dorfman-Pacific
Stockton, CA

Gospel Center Rescue Mission
445 S. San Joaquin St. Stockton, CA

Stockton Shelter for the Homeless
411 South Harrison St. Stockton, CA 95203-3332

one.TLC School for Homeless Children
Stockton, CA

San Diego Hat Company
San Diego

Emergency Shelter for Women and Children
(619) 687-3720 http://www.sdrescue.org


PHILADELPHIA RAPID TANSIT
Haddonfield, NJ

HADDONFIELD FRIENDS SCHOOL
MITTEN/HAT TREE PROGRAM.
47 North Haddon Avenue, Haddonfield, NJ 08033-2476
(856) 429-6786


For more information about Headwear for the Homeless please contact Jill Hammer at jill@hammerink.com or 323.550.8950.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Hat Day in The Sun -- Hat Giveaway Locations



HAT DAY in the SUN
June 17, 2011


The Headwear Association (THA) will be distributing free
Sun Protection Hats in cities across the U.S.


New York, NY
Harlem’s Heaven Hat Shop – 3:30pm
2538 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd
Harlem, NYC 10039

Mid-town Manhattan
Pop-Up Locations

THA will be hitting the streets of Manhattan to give away free sun protection hats. Follow THA on Twitter for hat giveaway times and locations.

http://twitter.com/THAHeadwear

Los Angeles, CA
MediaNoche – 4pm
5048 Eagle Rock Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Eagle Rock Farmer’s Market

Philadelphia, PA
Hats in the Belfry – Noon
South St & South 3rd St
Philadelphia, PA 19147

Lancaster, PA
Binn’s Park – 7am
100 N. Queen Street
Lancaster, PA 17603
Royal Oak, Michigan 48073

Charleston, SC
The Hat Ladies – Noon
Corner of King St and Calhoun St
Marion Square
Charleston, SC 29403

Long Branch, NJ
Pier Village – 11am
1 Chelsea Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740

Stockton, CA
San Joaquin County Fair Track – 1pm
1658 South Airport Way
Stockton, CA 95206

University of the Pacific – 5pm
3601 Pacific Avenue
Stockton, CA 95211
21st Annual All-Star Classic Baseball Game

Boulder, CO
Weekends – Noon
1200 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO 80302

Detroit, MI
Memorial Field Park – 2pm
W 13 Mile Rd and Woodward Ave

*This is an Advance Event on
June 11, 2011

2nd Annual Celebrity Detroit Piston –Lions Softball Game

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The Headwear Association Hosts 103rd Annual Dinner at The Central Park Boathouse





When we stepped into the Boathouse it felt like we’d entered a time warp. The room was filled with a glamorous crowd – and every single one of the 160 party guests at the 103rd Annual Headwear Association dinner was wearing a hat.

Gentlemen and dandies were decked out fedoras, derbys, homburgs and cowboy hats; the ladies were wearing everything from wide-brimmed statement hats to the chic, modern fascinators favored by Kate Middleton.

The Headwear Association (THA) is the oldest association in the hat trade and the oldest of its kind. Originally known as the Traveling Hat Salesmen's Association (THSA), the organization was founded on January 30, 1908 at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City by 34 hat salesmen.

THA President Courtney Bush of San Diego Hat Company welcomed the guests and was awarded the David Leiberman Award recognizing his year of service as president. Ryan Seth of Hats in the Belfry was inducted as the new Headwear Association President.

Headwear stalwart David Broner of Broner Hat & Glove was presented with the Ben Rosenthal Award recognizing a lifetime of excellence and leadership in the Headwear Industry. David Broner accepted this prestigious award in front of the entire Broner family – his wife, sons, daughter and grandsons all came from Detroit to attend the event.

Shawn Ferry, President of Byrnie Utz Hats in Seattle was presented with the Retailer of the Award.

Dawn Duncan, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at Fashion Institute of Technology announced the establishment of
The Headwear Association Endowed Scholarship at FIT. S.H. Baik of Young An Hat Company created the scholarship and partnered with The Headwear Association and FIT.

The scholarship will be awarded to a full time student with demonstrated academic merit and financial need majoring in Accessories Design with preference given to a student with special interest in millinery design.

Friday, April 8, 2011

THA 2011 Dinner Photos - Santos Photography

Hats are such a timeless accessory! This photo could be from any decade.

Xiao Li Tan, from Stetson shows us the freshest, coolest way for the ladies to rock a cowboy hat


Tracey Tooker, Tracey Tooker Hats


Toastmaster Don Rongione, Bollman Hat Company


Three Timeless Hat Shapes that never go out the style Modeled by Gary Rosenthal, Shawn Ferry and John Rosenthal


Theresa Gardner and Andrew Bleecher, San Diego Hat


Theresa Gardner and Andrew Bleecher, San Diego Hat Co. present Courtney Bush, San Diego Hat Co, with the David Leiberman Award


The Milliner's Guild


The impeccable Mr. John Jones of MR Magazine wears a Boater to the Boathouse


The Headwear Association Announces FIT Scholarship


The fantastic ladies of The Millinery Guild make a stylish entrance


The fabulously charmin Lauren Parker from Accessories Magazine


The Fabulous FIT Guests


The 2011 Headwear Hall of Fame Trophy


THA President, Courtney Bush Addresses the dinner guests


THA President, Courtney Bush


Shelly Lipton, Lipton Publicity; Lauren Parker, Accessories Magazine


Shawn Ferry, President, Bernie Utz Hats and Winner of the 2011 THA Retailer of the Year


Paul Mahon, Outdoor Cap Co


Monika Fina Millinery - a simply divine design


Monica Stebbins, Monika Fine Millinery


Matt and Julie Randsell, Matt's Hats


Kathy Anderson, Hats by Kat


Karen Alberg Grossman of MR Magazine, such a stunning smile from our style maven


Karen Alberg Grossman and Xiao Li Tan


Jill Hammer, Principal, HammerINK & THA Publicist; Don Rongione, President & CEO Bollman Hat Company
Junney Seth, Hats in the Belfry; Joe Caparosa, Dorfman-Pacific


Jenny Seth and Ryan Seth, Hats in the Belfry


Jeffrey Sun, Foremost; Todd Gardner, Dorfman-Pacific; Tracey Tooker, Tracey Tooker Hats



Jeffrey Sun from Foremost came all the way from Nantung, Jiangsu China to join us at the dinner


Jack Lambert, Dorfman-Pacific; Mark Craley, Bollman Hat Company


Headwear Industry Leaders Don Rongione, President & CEO Bollman Hat Company and Doug Highsmith, President & CEO Dorfman-Pacific



Gentlemen and Dandies Ouigi Theodore and Gabriel Garcia from the Brooklyn Circus


Gary Rosenthal presents David Broner, Broneer Hat & Glove, with Ben Rosenthal recognizing leadership and excellence in the Headwear Industry



FIT in the HOUSE



Everyone in HATS!



Ed Donegan, Hatco Presents Shawn Ferry, Bernie Utz Hats with the Retailer of the Year Award



Don Rongione, President & CEO Bollman Hat Company

Denise Woods, F&M Hat Company


Dawn Duncan and FIT Foundation Announce The Headwear Association FIT Scholarship


Dawn Duncan and FIT Foundation Announce The Headwear Asociation FIT Scholarship with Mr. S.S. Baik, Young An Hat Company


David Broner, Broner Hat & Glove, Winner of the Ben Rosenthal award recognizing leadership and excellence in the Headwear Industry


Courtney Bush THA President with Mark Schaffel, F&M Hat Co; Doug Highsmith, Dorfman-Pacific; Paul Mahan, Outdoor Cap Co.

Charlotte Dyslin and Angus Macleod from Bollman Hat Company

Bob Broner and David Broner, Broner Hat & Glove with the Ben Rosenthal Award

Bernard Grossman, F&M Hats and his lovely wife Lenore

Archi Burkel, The Hat Ladies; Beth Charleston and Jill Hammer of HammerINK

Archie Burkel, The Hat Ladies

Archie Burkel, The Hat Ladies of Charleston

A stunning day at the Central Park Boathouse enjoyed by Gary Rosenthal of Stetson