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.

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