The Headwear Association Annual dinner at Tavern on the Green in NYC was a marvelous evening of great cuisine, cocktails and camaraderie, and gave everyone in the industry a chance to touch base. Over 100 people attended the dinner on March 17. It was also a special evening of retail and wholesale recognition.

An Award was given to Sheila Hudson from Shepler’s Western Wear for Retailer of the Year. A Hat Life presentation was given by Diane Feen. “This well respected industry publication has significantly improved, and is much more meaningful to all of us,” said Art Gardner from Dorfman Pacific.

SKIN CANCER FOUNDATION

It was announced at the THA dinner that the THA has entered into an agreement with the Skin Cancer Foundation. Association members will have access to hang tags on all hats with a minimum 2 ¼ “ brim with no open weave. The Headwear Association will also be on their Corporate Council and will benefit from all Skin Cancer Foundation publicity efforts. This three-year agreement will entail that proceeds from a $0.05 hang tag will go to the SCF. Stuart Zatlin of Star Binding will produce the official hang tags. Financial support is being offered by Dorfman Pacific and Bollman Hats. There is talk of a “GOT HAT” promotion for the industry. Stay tuned.

The bunny eared swinger known as “Playboy” will be appearing on headwear. The license was awarded to California Sunshine Activewear. Contact svwong@playboy.com (Samantha V. Wong) for more information.

Debbie Siebers, the health and fitness expert seen on the TV show “The Swan,” unveiled a Spring 2005 collection at her website, www.DebbieSiebers.com . The line includes a Fitness Cap in white, black, gray, pool and melon.

Casey Bush, founder of the Headwear Information Bureau, was recently quoted in The Democrat Newspaper. “Across the nation, hats continue to be big sellers, escalating in sales between 5 percent and 15 percent per year. Last year, the estimated retail volume for women's hats in the United States was about $1billion. Across the nation, hats continue to be big sellers, escalating in sales between 5 percent and 15 percent per year,” said Bush. The article was about the family hat business, Deeb's Hats.

Imports of Chinese textiles and clothing are up 62.4 percent in the first two months of this year, compared with a year ago. The administration last week began an investigation that could lead to the re-imposition of quotas in certain categories of clothing, an action U.S. manufacturers contend is urgently needed to prevent Chinese goods from wiping out what is left of the U.S. textile and apparel industry.