Cooper McManus & BJ Gedney
Today we meet the co-founders of Hat Attack. The NYC based brand which was originally founded by husband/wife team BJ & Bill Gedney, is now run by BJ and her daughter Cooper who grew up at Hat Attack and currently runs the creative team for the brand.
In this post BJ and Copper share an inside look into the brand from its inception, the hat making process, what it’s like working together and their personal favorites from current collection.
When did you first decide to found your own brand, Hat Attack?
BJ: My husband Bill and I (my boyfriend at the time) started thinking about starting the brand in early 1981. We launched in September 1981—39 years ago!
How involved are you both in the design process?
Cooper: We are equally involved every step of the way! Typically one of us sees some inspiration or has an idea for a design and we get started on collaborating with how we will make that idea come to life in a way that works for our collection and our customer.
Chelsea in Charcoal with Black Wrap
The ‘Made in the USA’ hats from Hat Attack are made in your factory in the Bronx. Tell me about the hat making process.
BJ: Yes! We make 2 different kind of hats at our factory in the Bronx. The first is a washed cotton crusher, these days they are also known as a bucket hat.
This hat is made similar to garment production with a pattern, cut and sew. We also wash and dry each one to ensure the best quality and fit.
Cooper: Our other ‘Made in USA’ hats are our Felt Hats and Panamas, which are made by ‘blocking’ the raw materials. This is a handmade process that has a lot of steps. The bodies are the unconstructed materials that we steam first so they can be shaped by a mold which is called a block. This mold gives the hat their shape for the crown and brim. We let the shape dry before the edges are sewn and we place an interior band inside for added comfort. We then go through a second blocking process again to make the shape and size perfect before the hat band trim is selected. We’ll finish it off with the trim for added detail and design before shipping off to our retailers or customer!
Where do you source some of the materials you use for the hats made here in the US?
Cooper: We source from all over the world! Covid has changed our design process a little as we used to shop markets and stores when traveling the world and even in our own city, New York City.
We think the latest fall 2020 collection is actually better than ever as we are pulling from vintage collections and photos as inspiration, which is so fun for the creative process. We then send off the inspiration to our factories in Thailand, Turkey, India, Asia to help find what we’re looking for and eventually bring the design to life!
Classic Cable Pom Hat in Ivory
What is the best part of working together as a mother/daughter team?
BJ: Working together adds an extra dimension to our relationship. I get to spend every day with her and am in awe of the work ethic and creativity that Cooper brings to Hat Attack. There is so much work to do, but we do have some laughs throughout the day. Hopefully we will be travelling for inspiration together again at some point. We miss those trips together!
Which hats from both past and present collections do you find yourselves reaching for the most?
Cooper: The classic hats are always a favorite, a Panama style with ribbon or a braided sunhat with a special timeless trim. I know my mom always reaches for the Washed Cotton Crusher. It’s so comfy and a staple item that has been in the collection for over 30 years!
Paris Set
What was the inspiration behind the hats featured in the Fall 2020 collection?
BJ: Our Fall collection is all about casual cozy comfort. We were inspired by the great outerwear on the runway and the casual luxury that became classics. The collection opened prior to the quarantine, but we tweaked it later on to focus on scarves that can be used as face coverings when outside on city streets in colder weather.
Cooper: We think slow travel will still be preferred this winter, so we stocked the collection with tons of beanies in different styles and trims that are perfect for long walks when the temperatures drop.
Do you have personal a favorite from the current collection?
Cooper: In the new fall 2020 collection, my favorite is definitely the Autumn blanket scarf in fuchsia. I love adding some color to my neutral wardrobe.
BJ: Mine is the new Chell in packable velour. I plan to keep one in my bag the whole season in the Light gray.
Lauren in Beige with Ivory Ribbon
How do you plan to style your favorite hats during the upcoming fall season?
BJ: I’m looking forward to crisp Fall days to get into jeans, cashmere turtleneck, booties, a denim workwear jacket and a felt crushable hat or cashmere beanie.
What do you enjoy the most about seeing how customers have styled their hats and bags on social media?
Cooper: It’s so fun and exciting when our customers and stores post our products on Instagram and social media. We love re-sharing people’s looks and how to style our pieces in ways that we never would have considered within our own wardrobes! We especially enjoy it when customers share their love for the product. It makes us feel great knowing that our quality and design efforts are making people happy in some way.
Teddy Pom Hat & Loop in Taupe
Shop the fall collection at Hat Attack and following along via Instagram @hatattacknyc
That is a lot of hats! So many designs.