DID YOU MAKE IT TO THE 100^TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY FOR THE HEADWEAR ASSOCAITION?

The Annual Headwear Association Dinner at Tavern on the Green in NYC was a roaring success. The dining room at this historical Central Park venue was filled to the brim with media folks, headwear vendors, retailers, suppliers and manufacturers.

There was a business meeting (all were welcome) before the dinner where THA board members and hatters got together to discuss the state of headwear business. This year’s goals for the association were twofold – a new Headwear Association website (http://www.theheadwearassociation.org) and a new PR hire – Susan Weiss PR of Chicago.

Outgoing THA President Ashley Fichthorn turned over the torch to incoming THA President Bob Broner. "The mission of The Headwear Association is to promote hat wearing and we are asking people to get involved. Our biggest enemy, as an industry, is the amount of people not wearing hats." At the dinner, Broner was wearing his favorite pinch-front fedora with a 2" brim snapped up.

“Members can volunteer to help by contacting Broner (rbroner@broner.com - 248-391-6011) or any of the board members. Our next board meeting is April 23rd.

The annual discussion about a major media campaign was brought up again. Everyone is in agreement that an ad campaign is needed to educate and enlighten the public to wear hats. There is consensus that a “GOT HAT” campaign (a knock-off of the Got Milk campaign) is the next order of business.(I have a great idea for an ad campaign, but let’s talk about that later).

There is one thing standing in the way of this large undertaking. “We need a GOT HAT type campaign, but we can’t do it alone. It takes volunteers, but we know that a lot of people would benefit from it,” someone said.

THA board members contributed money for a web designer to build the THA website, that premiered on July 5, 2007. The site looks good but some of the features are a work in progress (as life tends to be for most of us). It was brought up that the site needs more hat history.

There are also THA committees that need filling and volunteers needed to help the THA reach their goals. All are invited to participate (did you hear that?)

THA PR honcho Susan Weiss gave a video presentation highlighting current and future plans – which included the Hats for the Homeless event (that took place last month), an upcoming National Hat Day (I could have sworn I said that last year), a Day at the Beach Hat Giveaway (slated for this June), and getting a celebrity to pose for hat promos (another of my ideas submitted to the THA last year).

Weiss brought up a great idea for a future promotion – a special “Every Hat Tells a Story” campaign where people would send in pictures of their hats and tell the meaning (or personal story) behind the hat. This is a stellar idea from Weiss and one that you should all get on board to bring to fruition.

If you were not at the event (and have not heard the news) then you should know that Ernest DelMonico of DelMonico Hats was given the Retailer of the Year Award and Ruben Spitz of Headwear Creations won the Rosenthal Award.

Both men spoke eloquently about the past, the future and the meaning of this distinguished headwear award. DelMonico spoke about his dad Ralph (who was in the hat industry for seven decades) and passed away at age 91. “In the 50’s the hat business went through tough times. They commissioned the same designer who completed the Studebaker; it had a flat crown and a bow in the back. We need more hat retailers to sell hats – small stores, gift shops and department stores. Hats need to be seen to be sold,” he said.

Ruben Spitz had us all humbled by his short yet sweet speech. “This is a happy occasion for me. I want to thank my family who supported me and those who stopped supporting me – I still support you.” There was a thunderous clapping from the audience on that one.

“I’m older, but I am still here,” said Spitz, who survived the labor camps in Poland. “Growing old is mandatory, yet growing up is optional. God Bless America,” he added.

The David Leiberman Award went to Ashley Fichthorn of F&M Headwear. The award was given by fellow headwear mate Wilson King, whose family have been hatters (like Fichthorn’s) for seven generations. Both men acknowledged that they were kindred souls with a headwear history and heritage that defies gravity as we know it in the apparel business today.

A good time was had by all. More details and photos will follow in the next newsletter – time is of the essence and if I speak more you might just nod off.

Greetings,
Diane feen
The Hat Lady

Jack Lampert of Dorfman Pacific and Corrie Oranje of The Hat Guys	Scott Starnes, EVP Dorfman Pacific, Debra Highsmith, VP sales women’s Dorfman Pacific and Thom Harris VP sales Milano Hat
Lauren Parker Editor of Accessories Magazine and Nicole Phillips of Accessories Magazine