As a hat wearer, you’re probably somewhat unconventional and independent. A free thinker. You delight in those differences. And so do we. Hats In The Belfry marches to the tune of a different hatter. Our approach is unlike any other hat retailer. We do things companies ten times our size can’t or won’t do.
We’re small – really small – but the absence of bureaucracy enables the development of truly special and unique styles.
Our History
1978
Hats in the Belfry Was Born!
After a trip to Key West, Courtney Garten and then-wife Margie Bryce felt inspired. They returned home to Annapolis, MD and signed a two year lease for a shop on Main Street with no idea what to actually sell.
1984
And We're Off! - Expansion
Hats in the Belfry began expanding along the East Coast, finding quaint little shops in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, South Street in Philadelphia, Harborplace and Fells Point in Baltimore, Maryland, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and in Georgetown, Washington D.C.
1997
We're on the Web
Joining the world of digital sales, we launched HATSINTHEBELFRY.COM to great success!
2004
Hats in the Belfry Changes Hands
Originally brought on as a consultant, Skip Briggs would go on to take ownership of the company in 2004 becoming Mr. Belfry!
2011
We Begin Selling on Amazon
After fourteen years of success on our website, we took another step in digital sales and opened an Amazon storefront.
2014
Handmade for Belfry
Our oldest collection - prominently featuring great designs from United States based milliners Stetson, Bollman Hat Co. & Korber Hats - gets it's name!
2017
Belfry Italia is Born
It began with a trip to Pitti Uomo in Italy. Today, our Belfry Italia collection features brimmed hats & caps designed in collaboration with over five Potent Partner from Italy.
2019
Montaponne, Italy
We took our first trip to the Hat Capital of the World - and the birthplace of most of the hats in our Belfry Italia collection - in 2019
2022
Website Revamp
In July 2022, we switched POS systems and gave our website a major upgrade.
90% of our hat styles are exclusive to Hats In The Belfry. Our hats are found nowhere else in the world.
These intimate relationships spawn great hats. We could not achieve excellence without their expertise.
Our Italian partners, in particular, have small, generations-old family businesses with people who are hard-working, meticulous, and unbelievably passionate about style and good taste.
They are not corporations with mass production. They are artisans - one-at-a-time hat makers - who help us make masterpieces.
At night, when the work is done, we gather to chew crusty bread, sip wine, share stories, celebrate our creations, and, if only momentarily, live la dolce vita.
Our accountants say these grand gestures are unproductive and a waste of capital.
...I’m betting these money guys don’t wear hats.
Like we do.
Grazie e’ Ciao,
Skip Briggs
Owner/ Shopkeeper
