(Boppy) Lanning, in his teens worked for a milliner in London, England, learning the hat-making trade. As a young man he emigrated to Canada, settling in Toronto. In 1915 he started a small shop, at first reconditioning men’s valuable fur-felt fedoras, top hats, and bowlers. Often the prized possession was delivered to him by the owner’s chauffer, while the owner himself toiled on Bay St. the hat
would be reconditioned and ready for the return trip home. As time went by he was able to buy the equipment necessary to begin production of his own headwear styles. Production finally outgrew the downtown Toronto establishment in 1949 making way for the notorious restaurant called The Boiler –Room, gaining its name from the steam boilers used in processing the hats. Today The Boiler Room is gone and Commerce Court is in its stead. Bob Lanning, second generation, joined the company in 1949 and assisted G.T. After reviewing many locations it was decided that Belleville had the right building and readily available labour. The new building was 45,000 Sqft. and quickly filled with personnel making all types of headwear. Today, David Lanning, third generation runs the operations in Belleville. Over the years Lanning Headware has delivered many types of hats including imported hats from Europe and Asia as well as continuing to deliver it’s own “made in Canada” selection. Today “made in Canada” is the primary product with over ninety percent of our sales generated by product made in the Belleville plant. The small but dedicated staff at Lanning Headwear, have a combined three hundred years of hat making experience.
