BILTMORE HAT COMPANY HAS NEW OWNER: Eric Lynes recently bought Biltmore Hat Company. Lynes is a self-professed hat lover with a gentle manner and sharp fashion savvy. Bob Cameron, pictured with Lynes, continues to be Biltmore’s sales manager. We wish them good luck!

Eric Lynes and Bob Cameron	Alvin from Lawrence Reed

NYC Retailer La Coppola Storta has just started wholesaling their novelty caps. Many of these hand- painted printed fabrics (Marilyn Monroe cap is very impressive) are exciting enough to get non-hat wearers to wear hats. Apparently celebs have taken notice. Yoko Ono, Outkast and Andre 300 are big fans of these Apple Jack Caps. Sales Rep Matty Palmer-DeConcini posed for our camera at the Accessory Show at the Las Vegas Hilton.

The retail store is at 246 Mott Street in lower Manhattan. These caps show a real sense of fashion bravado. Kudos.

SIERRA CLUB GOES SOFT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: The Sierra Club recently introduced a line of headwear made by DAYSTONE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION. It is exciting to see this organization spread their wings in the name of our planet. As a matter of fact, they are using the catch phrase: “I’m here to save the planet” on some of the items. There are elastic fit caps, washed twill bucket caps with mesh eyelets, long rear sun protector caps, rain resistant reversible bucket hats with two- layer crown, vented military cap with Promesh rear panel, Western hat with distressed flexible brim and leather patch and other novelty, yet wearable hats. This collection has integrity and style and speaks silently to those of us who value Mother Nature and its inhabitants. Save the Planet shirts and buttons are available. Some hats have the Sierra Club logo and others are plain. For information contact them at: 888-530-3499 or 770-381-3944. Johanna O’Kelley is the Director of Licensing & Membership Marketing and can be reached at: 415-977-5631 or Johanna.okelley@sierraclub.org

Balfour Hats, the English hatter, is now selling hats in the USA. Their elaborate dressy hats are perfect for the Church going public and come in dressy straws with feather and flower trimming. All hats come with custom made hat box. The USA rep is Winnie Frazier, she can be reached at 334-774-2305.

It won’t be long before the next Headwear Association dinner comes along in NYC. We are enclosing an application for membership for those of you who want to support the industry and contribute to its strength. Click here to download Headwear Association Application Form
	Tavern on the Green headwear association dinner last year.