Harveys SeatbeltBags

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

History

Founded in 1997, Harveys was created while Dana and Melanie were restoring a 1950 Buick. While installing seatbelts into the car, Dana decided to make a matching handbag for Melanie. After this, the couple 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 to make the bags led to the creation of a lifetime guarantee against manufacture 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, but not limited to, Limo Black, SUV Navy, and Stainless Steel. They introduced their first print bag in the summer of 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 them to design unique patterns. Print collections in the past have included many floral designs, geometric patterns, camo, animal prints, plaid, argyle, polka dots. The Treecycle collection has been a popular collection for Harvey's and features 100% reclaimed seatbelts in a variety of natural tones, with a hemp lining using organic dyes. Collections also feature 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 feature 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 come in the Medium Tote silhouette. Some 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 by far the best name award goes to 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 the fan favorite "Minnie Wristlet", makeup 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 which make great carry-on luggage. There's even a line of collars and leashes for your furry friends, 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 their customers/fans, 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 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 involved. From the Tim Burton Nightmare Before Christmas for Disney Couture to the Elvis Presley Collection, all are distinct, fun and functional.

Collaborations include:

• Mercedes-Benz^[1]
• The Walt Disney Company^[2]
• Barbie^[3]
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving
• Hyundai^[4]
• Gary Baseman
• Sujean Rim illustrator for DailyCandy
• Sid of Sid's Tattoo Parlor in Santa Ana, California
• Wahoo's Fish Taco
• Chevy Corvette ^[5]
• Chevy Camaro ^[6]
• Shag (Josh Agle)^[7]

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

• E! News^[8]
• NBC's Today Show^[9]
• Fox25 Morning News,^[10] Boston, MA
• Fox10 news,^[11] Phoenix, AZ
• WealthTV
• KTLA^[12] Los Angeles, CA

Print

• USA Today^[13]
• Readers Digest
• The Orange County Register^[14][15]
• OC Weekly ^[16]
• Brandweek Magazine
• Genlux Magazine
• Star Magazine
• Life & Style Magazine
• Travel + Leisure
• Antenna Magazine
• Teen Magazine
• Fashion Manuscript West
• Lucky Magazine
• Parent and Newborn Magazine
• Retail and Leisure International
• Simply Her

Locations

Harveys Original SeatbeltBags is based out of Santa Ana, California. They have a retail store at The Shoppes at Chino Hills, California, and a store connected to their factory called The Factory & Co., in Santa Ana, California. They have wholesale retailers that feature their items in shops across America, additionally they have locations in Korea and Singapore.

References

• Almanza de Gambaro, Sonia (September 2009), Harvey's Seatbelt Bags, retrieved 26 February 2011 
• "Fasten for Fashion", Readers Digest, March 2005, p. 22 
• Basheda, Lori (12 September 2007), "Seat belt fashionista opens first store, in Santa Ana", The Orange County Register 
• Ebenkamp, Becky (6 April 2009), "Brands on the Verge", Brandweek 
• O'donnell, Jayne (2 December 2004), "Designers buckle up whole line of seat belt fashions, furniture", USA Today 
• Whittfield, Mallory, Harveys Original Seatbelt Bag Interview With Harveys Founder, retrieved 6 February 2011 

Notes

External links

• www.seatbeltbags.com