Paula A. Harvey
442 West 57thStreet, Apt 10D, New York, NY 10019
917.660.5294| paulaharvey28@gmail.com | www.linkedin.com/in/paulaharvey28/
JEWELRY AND ACCESSORIES DESIGN EXECUTIVE
I believe that big business can happen in small packages, which to me has always been the beauty and magic of accessories. They expand a brand’s visual vocabulary and invite a broader participation in the brand experience. Accessories has always been the place that embraces my entrepreneurial spirit and “get-stuff-done” determination while also providing a rich and robust landscape of creative puzzles and challenges that are fun to solve.
Areas of Expertise
- Trend Analysis/Creative Inspiration/Design Innovation/Line Building
- Sourcing/Product Development/Technical Design/Vendor Relations
- Team Leader/Strategic Partner/Collaboration/Process Analysis
Product Categories
- Jewelry/Watches
- Hard Goods
- Soft Goods
Professional Experience
EXECUTIVE DESIGN CONSULTANTNew York, NY, 2017-PRESENT
Concept, Design, Line Building and Sourcing.
THE GAP, New York, NY, 2015-2017
SENIOR DESIGN DIRECTOR, All Adult Non-Apparel: Women’s|Men’s|Fit
Challenge: How do you inject “new” into an Iconic American Brand to make it relevant in the current retail landscape? Elevate consumer expectations by re-inventing the aesthetic, perfecting the design details, ensuring quality of execution and expediting product to market. Support apparel and marketing efforts by delivering a consistent design story across the “good, better, best” tiered approach to product. Feed the desire for “want-it-now” with an infusion of trend-right details.
Concept, design and develop core, seasonal basics and trend product lines. Partner with Leadership, Merchandising and Global Production to align direction and pricing architecture. Sync with RTW for holistic brand integration. Design Direct 3rdParty Collaborations, Licensed Products and Vendor Co- Creation.
- Hardline Categories: Bags, SLGs, Shoes, Belts
- Softline Categories: Scarves, Socks, Headwear, Cold Weather, Seasonal
- Business Launches: Men’s and Women’s Bags. Fit Accessories.
- Design Directed Collaborations: GQ, Pendleton, Disney, and Project Red.
- Expanded product offering. Elevated design. Improved quality, execution and fit for all categories.
- Capitalized on categories with momentum and revitalized underperforming segments
- Created product to support online and specialty market opportunities.
- Piloted monthly design/booking for speed to market. Became “Best of Practices” across corporation.
- Worked with Leadership throughout seasonal design cycles to align on big ideas, aesthetic imperatives, business needs and new opportunities.
- Extensive travel for Inspiration, Development and Vendor Co- Creation.
EXECUTIVE DESIGN CONSULTANT, New York, NY 2014-2015
Concept, Design, Line Building and Sourcing.
Private Clients, Water Art Studios, Barney’s New York.
COACH LEATHERWARE / REED KRAKOFF, New York, NY 1999-2013
Coach management expanded my role to facilitate participation in the development of the Reed Krakoff (RK) business.
DIVISIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, Coach / RK, Fashion Accessories, Jewelry, Watches 2010 – 2013
SENIOR DESIGN DIRECTOR, Coach / RK, Fashion Accessories, Jewelry 2007 – 2010
DESIGN DIRECTOR, Women’s Accessories 2004 – 2007
SENIOR DESIGNER, Women’s and Men’s Accessories 1999 – 2004
Coach:
Challenge: Brand Reinvention – Introduce design innovation and fashion relevance while maintaining the integrity of this classic brand.
Concept, design and develop seasonal product lines and develop new businesses within the accessory category. Directed / Managed 2 design teams (Jewelry and Fashion Accessories) in a process that included hardware design, researching and developing raw materials and sourcing production solutions. Partnered with President / Creative Director and Design Team to ensure holistic integration with overall brand design and market position.
- Business Launches: Jewelry and small accessories.
- Directed design of Tony Duquette Jewelry collection, an exclusive partnership that generated the most visible collaboration in Coach’s history.
- Built the watch collection through Licensee – a key initiative designed to extend and define the brand’s lifestyle appeal.
- Designed jewelry, watches, gloves and hardware for Coach Capsule Collection.
- Presented to Executive Team and Merchants to promote product adoption and sell-through.
- Collaborated with merchants and channels to secure appropriate assortment with desired margins in order to meet growth and market share targets.
- Provided design inspiration across all categories as requested by management.
- Created design archive shared companywide.
- Extensive travel to constantly infuse product development and design with an inspiring and technical edge.
Reed Krakoff:
Challenge: Brand Creation – Establish the critical design DNA of a new luxury brand. Worked directly with President / Creative Director to establish the brand’s creative POV, its position in the market and the vision that would guide it through the development of the core line and future product extensions.
- Created an iconic visual story and establish jewelry as a branded category.
- Designed and developed gloves.
- Participated in creation of Michelle Obama’s Inaugural Wardrobe.
FREELANCE DESIGNER, New York, NY, 1998 – 1999
Provided concept, design and sourcing.
- Products included: Jewelry, Gifts, Leather Goods.
- Clients included: Coach Leatherwear, Saks, Fragments NYC, and Elizabeth Errico Jewelry.
BANANA REPUBLIC, New York, NY, 1991 – 1998
DESIGNER / PRODUCT MANAGER
Women’s Accessories and Jewelry.
Responsible for concept, design, development and presentation of products for seasonal lines.
- Products included: Jewelry, Handbags, Belts, Small Leather Goods, Hair and Items.
- Business Launches: Jewelry and Handbags.
- Designed, sourced and developed handbag business in the Far East.
- Sourced and developed new vendors, resources and raw materials internationally.
- Collaborated with RTW for cohesive brand message.
- Delivered production ready sourced product within given price structure to merchants.
- Domestic and international travel for inspiration and development.
- Cast and produced seasonal presentations.
Additional Work History
FREELANCE, New York, NY, 1991
COORDINATOR / PRODUCTION MANAGER
Created and researched concepts for production. Prepared budgets, hired crew. Coordinated crew, equipment, locations, permits and talent. Coordinated post production for finished product.
- Commercials, Music Videos, Industrials, TV Specials, Live Events, Video, Film, High Definition, Stills.
- Clients included: Playboy Enterprises, Chambers and Associates, Gregory Heisler Studio, Pat Kogan Productions, SDR Films, Bravo, Good Machine Baby Inc., NHK.
CAPTAIN NEW YORK, INC. New York, NY, 1989-1991
PRODUCTION MANAGER, HDTV
Pioneer in the early development and use of HD as a television format.
- Industrials, Music Videos, Live Events, Short Films, Documentaries, Experimental Shoots.
- Managed and scheduled HDTV Facility/2 Mobile Units and Ed Sullivan Theater
- Selected crew, talent and locations. Managed schedule, supervised engineering / production staff.
- Conducted concept and development meetings with clients and prospective clients.
- Clients included: MTV, VH1 / Comedy Central, Festival Productions, NHK, Berkshire Motion Pictures, ILM / Skywalker Ranch, Jack Morton Productions, Paramount TV, Sony Classical, Scientific America, IBM.
MORRISON MEDIA, New York, NY, 1987 – 1988
PRODUCER
Created, produced, planned and staged corporate industrials.
- Created project concepts, staffed productions, managed projects and solicited new business.
- Video, multi-image, speaker support, audio and print materials for meetings and marketing support. Clients included: Shearson Lehman Hutton, Inc., Morgan Stanley, Chemicalbank, Rockefeller
Center Properties, Inc., The Turner Corporation, NYMEX, American Cyanamid, Interiors Magazine, Goldman Saks, Cool and the Gang.
Education
BA, Political Science, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY
FSU Studied Political Science, Art History and Italian in Florence, Italy
Accessories Design at Parsons School of Design
Pilgrim Santiago de Compostela
Languages
Italian
Volunteer
Robin Hood Foundation