Thursday Q&A: Toni Hacker of Hayden-Harnett

Toni Hackett, 34, is the creative genius behind Brooklyn label, Hayden-Harnett. Since 2003, Toni and her partner Ben Harnett have been designing accessories and apparel for the working woman who is always on the go. For Spring 2009, Hayden-Harnett has expanded into footwear and swimwear. Success would have it that the up and coming label is slotted to release a Target collection in late December 2008. Ms. Hackett is a kind, innovative woman with a great deal to offer to the accessory and apparel industry. As a savvy business owner, Toni has much more than a thriving company. She has love.

How did Hayden-Harnett come about?
Well, Ben and I met while I was working as an accessories designer. We started seeing each other. I decided I wanted to launch my own line [with Ben] and see how it went. We designed the entire line around this girl, lets say she’s an alter ego in a way. Totally imagine and idealize what this girl needs to have in her daily life, so we built everything around her. She’s creative, she’s a working professional, she’s always on the go, she always has to look great no matter where she is. And she probably has to carry most of her life around in her bag.

Did you feel that designing handbags and apparel would be your career destiny?
Honestly, no. When I became a working professional, I was like wow, I can’t be the only person but its really difficult for me to find bags that really suit my day to day needs. When you live in New York and you start your day at home and you’re probably not going to get home until 9 or 10 o’clock at night. It was that need that made me say I need to start this line. So I designed five styles. I knew these are the bags that women need in New York, in every city and even in the middle of the country.

You’ve really put the thought into the working woman. I think that a lot of designers just expect women to just look beautiful but we need practicality also.
It’s just not realistic. Most of us have jobs. A lot of us have families. Everyone is trying to get through the day but you want to look your best. I am all about style, I’m totally about fashion but it has to really work or as a product designer, I am not doing my job at all.

You’ve really put the thought into the working woman. I think that a lot of designers just expect women to just look beautiful but we need practicality also.
It’s just not realistic. Most of us have jobs. A lot of us have families. Everyone is trying to get through the day but you want to look your best. I am all about style, I’m totally about fashion but it has to really work or as a product designer, I am not doing my job at all.

I know that Ben is a huge part of the company.
Ben is a huge part of the company. I think the reason that the company is so successful is that Ben and I are very much right brain, left brain. We were are up at night, our conversations are about what we’re reading and then some weird physics, like the saddle shaped universe, does this exist? We’re totally geeks. I know we just want to keep making and I know he feels the same way. Our strength lies in the fact that we’re not out to conquer, we’re just out to do what we like to do. And make really useful and functional things for women.

What would you say is the best piece of advice that has been passed on to you that you can pass on to other women?
No matter what, don’t worry too much. You’re always going to land on your feet. My grandmother said if you don’t put your neck out there, you’re never going to know what could come of it.

There a lot of people that are so afraid of taking chances, but it is those people that take risks that are wildly successful.
Everyone has one idea that will improve their society or their culture at that time. It is taking that risk and not being scared because you are going to land on your feet. Everyone has such a unique perspective and that’s why we are all here. My whole idea with Hayden-Harnett was if I want something, there are one thousand women out there that want the same. We are all so similar and at heart really want the same things. We are all looking for the same thing.

Congratulations on your Target collection. Can you tell us about it?
The Target collection was such a great thing for us to do. I love the idea of being able to design for all. That’s why Target was such a great platform. We were so excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with them. We did the first umbrella that they’ve ever had for a guest collection with our print. It’s actually inspired by a vintage umbrella that I found in my neighborhood in Greenpoint, [Brooklyn] which is where I find all the good things.

There seems to be a lot of vintage inspiration in your products. What is it about vintage pieces that inspire you?
It just has that feeling of one foot forward and one foot back. There is something that I like about the timelessness and I definitely strive for that in my design. I want it to always feel timeless like a good David Lynch film. You don’t quite know what the time period is but that’s the beauty of it.

Tell us about your customer.
I’m really glad that we’ve always had a really strong, direct customer. It opens up so many avenues of what we can do by going directly to our customer.

What has been you’re favorite part of this journey?
You know, I know it sounds corny but I have to say I’ve learned a lot about Ben. Its really made me see how amazing he is. It has brought us so close. And it really makes me respect him. We bounce ideas off each other all day long. We have a very strong bond because of the company. That’s the astounding thing about starting this company that I wasn’t expecting.

Interview by Lala Lopez