Cloud Luggage Tag, leather, $38

Is it just me, or would you be nervous about this cool luggage tag being stolen from your bag after it was checked? I mean, not only is it quilted and 3-D, but it's designer! Look at the cute lil' signature HH rivets. Hayden-Harnett, you've done it again.

*

**

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While I'm on the topic of bags, I usually carry this bag.* Or this bag.** But because of the snow today, I am carrying this bag.*** Wait a minute.****



*I got it from the Greenpoint Hayden-Harnett store in November. One day, I was feeling cooped up and I decided to take a walk down Franklin Street with my credit card for some exercise. Or something. And I impulse-purchased it. And am still 100% happy with it.

**Impulse purchased from Kenneth Cole. To accommodate my gym stuff and all my other stuff. Works well. But demagnetizes my monthly subway pass. Thinking of cutting out the magnets, but don't really want to. How will the bag stay closed?

***I got it from Alter on Franklin Street. It's made of Japanese paper! And totally waterproof. By Matt & Nat. In my opinion, it's important to have a dressy outfit and accessories that are totally waterproof. It's all well and good to look nice, but what are you going to do in the pouring rain or slushy snow? Exactly.

****I do a lot of impulse purchasing. Don't I. I think I only impulse-purchase. Hmm. Perhaps I am a fashion thrill-seeker.

Will the real hobo please stand up. No not this one.
This is the imposter by Old Navy. Canvas Hobo, $24.50

This one is the real thing by Hayden-Harnett
Havana Hobo in black leather, $498.
but half-price today via Lucky Deal of the Day

I was in Old Navy yesterday. It was one of those days where I needed to browse massive amounts of stuff. I always like checking out their accessories, mainly the bags, not the jewelry. And surprise surprise, I saw a Canvas Hobo hanging there and gasped out loud! (hoping the lady near me would ask me what was the matter so I could tell her the following) Old Navy blatantly knocked off one of Hayden-Harnett's signature bags. My friend owns this one. The Havana Hobo. Outrage. Old Navy shouldn't be able to get away with this. It's just not right.* I am hoping Hayden-Harnett reads this and takes action. By the way, Hayden-Harnett's Havana Hobo is half-price today, courtesy of Lucky magazine's Deal of the Day, in case you're interested.



*Back in the day when I was doing trade shows, Urban Outfitters knocked off my designs. Three times! I still boycott Urban Outfitters clothing. It is not cool to knock off indie designers.

Hayden-Harnett for Target Brown Clutch, on sale, $4.98

By the way, have you checked out Hayden-Harnett's line for Target? I have not seen the merchandise in person yet, but for $4.98, I might make the gamble. Hayden-Harnett for Target here.

Special Insider Sneak Peak:
The Hayden-Harnett Showroom in the Garment District

There were slim but quality pickin's at the Hayden-Harnett sample sale today. I was there promptly at noon. Covetable handbags, wallets and a few sexy bikinis. No clothes, contrary to the TimeOut listing, but oh well. I was there for the bags. Note: if you like gold hardware, you are in luck! Every bag at the sale has gold hardware. Like this classic, available for only $200. Another note: yes, the elevator does work. It just takes awhile. Luckily there were no lines or crazed mobs.* It was a very civilized shopping experience, actually.

Hayden-Harnett Sample Sale
16 W36th Street (5th & 6th Avenues)
Suite 506
April 2, 11am-7pm
April 3, 11am-7pm


*Unlike at Topshop in SoHo, which opened today.

Lido Zippered Mini Bag by Hayden Harnett, $58.

Limited edition. Unique looking. Nice price. Made by a fellow Brooklyn independent designer. Now this is a purchase I could get behind. Hayden-Harnett is based in Greenpoint, at the end of my street! I think I will go browse today. When the rain lets up.

click on the image to enlarge

I was just invited to a great shopping event tomorrow evening, complete with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres! So I thought I would pass it along to all you fans of Hayden-Harnett. No need to thank me. But if you want to, well, go ahead and thank me. I respond well to positive reinforcement.

The entire Spring/Summer 07 Collection by Hayden-Harnett will be available at 30-50% off at this special soiree to raise money for the American Printing House for the Blind (where designer Toni Hacker's Mom reportedly works as a braille editor in Louisville, Kentucky). In fact, 25% of tomorrow evening's sales will benefit this great institution.

You won't want to miss this wonderful shopping opportunity. I know I won't. Peruse the Hayden-Harnett Website and get excited for what you may acquire tomorrow! And while you are researching online, preview Five Front, the restaurant at which the sale will be held.

[page print from zoozoom.com]

Published: Zoozoom.com, The Zoo Daily
Read it on Zoozoom: click here
Writing: Elaine Perlov
Photo: Elaine Perlov



Isn't the LORCA bag by Hayden-Harnett sumptuous? I love it. And their new store is right in my neighborhood. Greenpoint!



If you cannot view on Zoozoom: click on the image above
To read more of my articles for Zoozoom: click here

Hayden-Harnett, 211 Franklin St, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Click for shopping hours and start planning your visit.

Another great chandelier and tin ceiling combination on Franklin

The Hayden-Harnett Design Shop also features jewelry from
Dejarnette New Orleans plus more...

The newly-launched ready-to-wear collection,
designed by Sonia A. is not to be missed!
Above, the NORA Short Swing Trench in leather.
Click here to see additional jackets.

The shop's decor is a wonderful combination of textures, patterns and finishes.
You must pay a visit to experience the full effect.

Hayden-Harnett opened their first and only design shop on March 25, 2007. I saw them doing the build-out one day in March, and got very excited when I saw the wallpapered wall and the chandeliers. And then I found out that Hayden-Harnett specialized in handbags! Oh joy! A designer-driven label specializing in luxury leather goods including handbags and small accessories would be opening down the street from me on Franklin Street.

Hayden-Hartnett is available in boutiques nationwide, including Albertine on Christopher St, Sir on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, and Barneys Coop, to name just a few in New York. Their bags are just plain sexy. When you try one on in their store, you will be under their spell. I cannot get the LORCA Flap Bag in soft gold, plum or chocolate out of my mind. Or the MERCER Clutch in ink or pewter. And after a few visits to the store, I have now discovered the belts and all of the small accessories arranged in the corners of the store. Don't miss the corners when you go. There is a lot to see. Including their newly launched clothing line, designed by Sonia A. The details on the clothes mirror the bags; it is a very sculptural, wonderful, accessories-inspired line.

I was very happy to have a nice e-mail chat with Toni Hacker, who is the designer of Hayden-Harnett handbags and accessories. She runs the company with her business partner and boyfriend, Ben, whom I met on my first visit to the store. Toni had a lot of great things to say about design and her vision for Spring/Summer 07. Below, our conversation, via e-mail.

EP: Talk about your design philosophy.
TH: My design philosophy really started with myself. I was looking for bags and wallets to fit in with my busy life as a designer in NYC (who traveled extensively) and who had a ton of gadgets, plus a laptop to haul around. I also needed to look stylish, yet be organized, at all times.

That's entirely how Hayden-Harnett began...realizing that if I, as a designer, were looking for bags that really performed (for less than my NY rent), then there must be thousands of women looking for the same. I made it my mission to make the bags that I always dreamed of having for travel, day, evening, and weekends.

Our overriding aesthetic is ultimately form + function. Each design has to really work for our customer and with her busy, modern life. Our bags are well-designed and made from fantastic leathers that Ben and I travel the globe to source, yet they aren't precious (and certainly lower in price than NYC rent!). All of our bags, even the most fantastic and ladylike frame bag, will have a minimum of three interior pockets for your mobile, iPod, and PDA, plus a zippered rear-wall pocket. Many of our lovely mod cocktail dresses and slinky satin tunics have hidden pockets built in for your mobile and keys. Just the thing for stylish city-dwellers!

EP: How long have you been in the fashion business?

TH: I've been in the fashion business since 1999, when I came on with a small private label company in NYC as their design director for accessories. My background, however, is in Product/Industrial design. I graduated in 1997 from Eastern Kentucky University and did commercial interiors and fixtures for a while in Columbus, Ohio and Knoxville, TN. Then decided it was time for a change...I wanted to do something more personal with my life and to be able to give back in a way that felt a bit more human than banking fixtures and drive-thru signs for Burger King.

Accessory design, thankfully, came knocking at my door and I've been happily sketching away and developing great bags for a range of prices for 8 years. I did a lot of design for the juniors market...really fun stuff! I feel that same joie de vivre really translates to the Hayden-Harnett line. Nothing is overly serious in our collection. We do a ton of fun prints and brighter colors. There are too many unhappy looking black and brown bags in the world :) I want the interior of our bags to feel like a secret... only you know what's inside, plus there is something about every bag to make you smile...you are looking super-fly with your new HH bag, but hey, you've got a weekends worth of work, a laptop, and a pair of Repetto flats inside and a vintage Marni cardigan. You are ready to rock the weekend in style and being totally organized for next weeks meetings only makes life that much easier!

EP: Name 2-3 hot trends you will capitalize on for Spring/Summer 07. I realize your bags are not strictly trend-driven, but if you do incorporate trends, i.e. colors, shapes, details, hardware, please comment on what interests you design-wise, and how you transform that trend into your own language.
TH: Our top trends at Hayden-Harnett for SP07 are:

• vintage look metallics (especially gold)
• floral and graphic prints
• handbag shapes becoming a bit more structured...our entire design influence was based upon Paris in the 60s
• yellow and a washed-out vivid color palette
• natural materials mixed with slick patent trim...the look of opposites uniting to create balance of extremes

Thank you so much Toni! I loved receiving your thoughtful eloquent answers and feel very pleased to now have an understanding of what drives your wonderful design work. Congratulations on your new store. I wish you all the best success!

[Note to readers: I have included many links to Hayden-Harnett's Website, so you can investigate thoroughly before your first visit. Many of the picture captions are links too.]

Hayden-Harnett
211 Franklin Street
Corner of Freeman Street
Greenpoint, Brooklyn 11222
718.389.1750
G to Greenpoint Ave, exit India Street

HAYDEN-HARNETT is the second store portrait in our new "Shopping on Franklin" special feature. Watch for another store portrait a week from Thursday.

The LORCA Flap Demi is my favorite bag, available with or without tassel.
In my opinion, you have to get the tassel. It makes the bag.


The fantastic wall of bags! I got the chills when I saw all the exciting styles.
Near the register, there are great change purses to match your new bag.


Remember to examine all the small interesting objects on display in the corners of the shop.


The style: relaxed elegance, draped, and sexy.


A view inside from the front door.

The windows from Franklin Street. The design shop
is on the corner of Franklin and Freeman Streets.

Shopping On Franklin: 1. Word, 2. TBA, 3. TBA, 4. PA Grocery,
5. Alter, 6. Dalaga, 7. Pencil Factory, 8. The Queen's Hideaway,
9. Greenpoint Coffee House, 10. Franklin Corner Store,
11. Brooklyn Label, 12. Casa Mon Amour, 13. Hayden-Harnett

With a flurry of recent retail activity, Franklin Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn* (see map) is developing into a new shopping destination. Just a year ago, Franklin Street was entirely dusty and dug up by road crews, and looked more like the urban frontier. The only retail activity happening during the weekday afternoon was at the corner bodegas, laundromats and the seemingly single 'outpost of cool' Greenpoint Coffee House (#9).

There were also some hidden gems though, like Rudy's, where I would get the best egg sandwich with the tastiest hot sauce and delicious coffee (now sadly gone and changed hands to Brooklyn Label, #11) and the Franklin Corner Store (#10; still in business, thankfully), with an extensive menu of creative sandwiches at great prices, from $2.50-$7. I recommend the "New Mexico" with black bean dip, eggplant, tomatoes, hold the lettuce, pepper, jack cheese, avocado, jalapeno and pressed for $5.50. Delicious. But I digress.

I thought it necessary at this point in Franklin Street's retail development to create a new feature for the blog, Shopping on Franklin. For the past weeks, I have been out taking photos** and gathering field notes about this new retail culture. I will be bringing you individual portraits of four new stores***, which I think you will enjoy.

• Dalaga. Opened June 2006. Designer-owned boutique featuring the Dalaga label and other hot women's and men's clothing collections, jeans, shoes, handbags and jewelry. Very affordable. Nice surprises. (#6 above)
• Hayden-Harnett. Opened March 2007. Designer-owned boutique featuring the complete Hayden-Harnett luxury leather goods collections including handbags and small accessories (also carried at Barneys Coop!) and showcasing their complete clothing line, which is not to be missed. (#13 above)
• Alter. Opened February 2007. Designer-owned shop featuring the deconstructed/reconstructed Alter label, jewelry, denim, and affordable men's and women's clothing. (#5 above)
• Word. Opened March 2007. A bookstore featuring the latest fiction and non-fiction, stationery, gifts, tees by Modern Planet and a dedicated children's section. (#1 above)

Stay tuned!


*Greenpoint is my neighborhood and Franklin is my street. I can give you the day-to-day blow-by-blow.
**How do you like my Franklin Street storefront collage?
***Four new stores at the time of this post. As more stores open, I will bring you the news.