Eric Javits opened his women's hat business in 1985. Within a few years he became known as the hat designer of choice for the international set, royalty and prominent society ladies as well as those celebrated in the worlds of music, television and film industries. Ten years later he launched the Squishee^® hat, a product which he designed and developed in response to changing lifestyle needs and a widespread concern about melanoma and the sun's damaging rays.

The Squishee^® hat could be rolled up for travel and then spring back to its original shape undamaged. This hat, first introduced in 1995 is now widely recognized as having changed the course of the women's headwear market. The Squishee^® concept evolved into an extensive collection of packable accessories; handbags were added in 1997, coordinating footwear in 2001 and most recently, small leather accessories such as wallets and wristlets.