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Handbags and Chutzpah
An exclusive interview with Toni Hacker, Designer and Founder of Hayden- Harnett
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Hayden-Harnett has been producing handbags and accessories for the modern gal for over 10 years and recently branched into clothing—a launch that has proved a big hit in the fashion world. We decided to ask one half of the brains behind the Brooklyn brand (boyfriend Ben Harnett co-founded and co-manages the line) about their inspiration, their customer and what the future holds for Hayden-Harnett.
Describe the Hayden-Harnett aesthetic.
Hayden-Harnett is overall quirky, stylish, unique, and classic with a rock and roll heart. With our handbags, accessories and travel goods I always strive for the utmost functionality that we can build into the bag. Our girl always looks so unique and fresh, but she’s a nomad of sorts…you never know where she’ll end up in the course of a day. She can step straight from an ad meeting, to lunch with girlfriends, to a film festival and dinner.
Where did the name come from?
On April Fool’s Day in 2005, I joked that I was starting my own handbag line and sketched out the logo, the initials of our last names, together inside a circle on a napkin. I felt that Hacker-Harnett sounded too “official” somehow and finally settled on Hayden-Harnett…I just liked the sound of name. Hayden-Harnett became this alter ego that I design the collection for each season.
Who do to see as the Hayden-Harnett customer? Who do you design for?
The idealized HH femme fatale that lives in my head has the sleek elegance and easy glamour of Louise Brooks, has the chutzpah and style of Debbie Harry, the mind and vision of Louise Nevelson, and the soul and wit of Emily Dickinson.
She’s a lovely mix-up of friends, and all my female heroes, plus myself. When I design the collection, I imagine exactly what her closet looks like…what she wears to work, what she wears to the park, what she wears to parties. I guess I’m a method designer at heart. I really envision a world and story for our collection each season.
Where did you draw inspiration from for the latest collection?
Diane Arbus, Cargo Cults, Deco, and Magical Realism.
What are some immediate plans for the company? 5 years?
We’d love to be able to maintain what we’ve created. We don’t have plans to take over the world, but I could definitely see us opening a few more stores in great neighborhoods in LA, Chicago, Seattle, or Portland…just small and unique slices of a shop. I’d really love to create some signature scents and home goods also…that would be so fun for me. Ben and I have definitely created a nice nest in Greenpoint.