Harveys SeatbeltBags

Harveys is a handbag design and manufacturing company owned and operated by the husband and wife, Dana and Melanie Harvey, based in Orange County, California, USA. The handbags us a woven design with seatbelts as the medium. All of their bags are handcrafted in the United States.

Harveys Original SeatbeltBag
Founded1997
HeadquartersSanta Ana, California
ProductsHandbags, wallets, accessories, men's wallets, laptop bags, diaper bags, luggage
Websitewww.shopharveys.com

History

Founded in 1997, Harveys was created while the Harveys were restoring a 1950 Buick. While installing seatbelts into the car, he decided to make a matching handbag for her.[1] After this, they started making more for friends and family. With demand rising they turned their garage into their first production site. The Buick was sold and used as capital to fund the growing business. Orders for bags have been placed by Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and many other independent retailers since then. The current office headquarters and factory are located in Santa Ana, California.

Influences

Harvey's SeatbeltBags have based past designs for handbags on automobiles, vintage clothing, art, retro architecture, iconic pop culture, tattoos, nature, dessert foods and customer input.

The strength of the material used led to the creation of a lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects and the slogan "Guaranteed Tough". Durable, fade resistant automotive grade seatbelts and YKK zippers are sewn on industrial sewing machines (the kind used to sew horse saddles) with NASA grade nylon 69 thread.

Collections

Handbags

Harveys SeatbeltBags first started using solid colors of seatbelts with names including Limo Black, SUV Navy and Stainless Steel. They introduced their first print bag in summer 2006. The SeatbeltBug design was a print of different insect silhouettes on a green or pink background with matching interior lining. Since then, the development and ability to print on seatbelt webbing has been a creative outlet for the company and allows it to design unique patterns. Print collections in the past have included many floral designs, geometric patterns, camouflage, animal prints, plaid, Argyle and polka dots. The Treecycle collection has been a popular one for Harvey's and has 100% reclaimed seatbelts in a variety of natural tones, with a hemp lining using organic dyes. Collections also use different silhouettes, including a ruffled "Lola" design, a horizontally side by side stitched "Boat Tote" collection, a mini seatbelt woven "Madison" collection, a vertically stitched "Stella" collection as well as bags with wool and leather accents. Bags have incorporated items like lace, sequins, zippers and bows into their design as well.

Limited Edition Bags

Starting in 2004, Harveys Original SeatbeltBags have been seasonally releasing limited edition "LTD" bags twice a year that have combinations of solid color woven seatbelts with novelty themes. Only 250 bags are released in each color combination and the bags are numbered 1-250. LTD bags have a unique lining, hand stamped hang-tag with the logo of the bag and generally have the Medium Tote silhouette. Limited editions in the past include Cotton Candy, Caramel Crunch, Orange Sherbet, Black Berry, Paint by Numbers, Black Pearl, Sand Dollar, Lady Luck, Queen of Hearts, Tree Hugger, Cupcake and a Wahoo's theme with the famous fish taco house colors. Halloween inspired LTDs include Scaredy Cat, Boo, Twilight and Monster Mash, but the most unusual name is one based on a Starbucks drink named Venti Upside Down Soy Caramel Macchiato Sugar-free Vanilla Syrup and an Extra Shot of Espresso w/ Whip.

Accessories

The Harveys accessory line includes wallets, coin purses such as "Minnie Wristlet", make-up cases, key chains, bows, rosettes, lanyards, passport covers, luggage straps, camera cases, headbands, portfolios, an iPad case, e-reader case, guitar straps, camera straps, travel items from Dopp Kits to Weekender Bags for carry-on luggage. There is a line of collars and leashes for pets, diaper bags in several colors and seatbelt throw pillows. In the past, they offered belts, scarves and stuffed bears.

Special events

Harveys has a special relationship with its customers and treats them to much-anticipated events such as LTD or Special Edition Release Parties complete with games, refreshments and give-aways, First Friday when a new design, color or collection is released on the first Friday of each month, and the annual 12 Days of Christmas where Facebook fans have the chance to win a SeatbeltBag every day for 12 days.

Collaborations

Harveys has collaborated with other companies and artists to develop bags that fit the personality of both parties. From the Tim Burton Nightmare Before Christmas for Disney Couture to the Elvis Presley Collection, all are distinct, fun and functional.

Collaborations include:

In 2009, Harvey's hosted the Intro contest where artists designed and customized seatbelt handled tote bags. After public voting, Harveys put bags by Katie Schutte, Cody Lusby and Nancy Chiu into production.

Media coverage

Harvey's SeabeltBags has been featured in magazines and on television.

Television

Print

Locations

Harveys Original SeatbeltBags is based in Santa Ana, California. It had a retail store at The Shoppes at Chino Hills, California, which closed in 2018. There is a retail store that functions as a showcase for its collections connected to its factory, called The Factory & Co., in Santa Ana, California. It previously sold its collections through wholesale retailers, but that was also discontinued when Harveys decided to sell its seatbelt bags from Santa Ana only.

In spring 2020, when the Coronavirus pandemic caused national and statewide lockdowns for health safety, the Harveys were able to keep their market sales operational by selling through their website and strove to keep their work force employed. They have cultivated a family-like atmosphere among their customers and employees. The Harveys host monthly "First Friday" releases that generally sell out within minutes and they host special sales on a regular and on-going basis which can be previewed on social media "live" events.

References
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  12. http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/morning_show/girls_club/earth-day-and-earth-friendly-products
  13. http://www.ktla.com/videobeta/f1331873-784e-4ee0-80d5-ebbd48717680/News/KTLA-Made-in-America-Popular-Seatbelt-Bag-Made-In-SoCal-Chris-Burrous-reports. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. O'Donnell, Jayne (December 12, 2004). "Designers buckle up whole line of seat belt fashions, furniture". USA Today.
  15. "Fasten for Fashion". Readers Digest. March 2005. p. 22.
  16. Lori Basheda (September 12, 2007). "Seat belt fashionista opens first store, in Santa Ana". Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
    - Eugene W. Fields (September 6, 2011). "Halloween handbags to debut at Downtown Disney store". Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  17. , OC Weekly
  18. Ebenkamp, Becky (April 6, 2009). "Brands on the Verge". Brandweek. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011.
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