Many of us like to know about the brands we do business with. We care about their values, business, and environmental practices.
With that in mind, it is our pleasure to introduce you to Hark+Hammer, a designer brand that creates modern silhouettes in exclusive silk prints.
Background:
HARK+HAMMER was established by lead designer Suzie Hamer and fashion mogul Uri Harkham in Los Angeles and launched in 2017. The collection juxtaposes minimalist silhouettes with custom prints, creating timeless pieces with a modern, artistic edge. One-of-a-kind fine silk prints are produced in Italy: the collection is manufactured in Los Angeles.
Designer Statement: East Coast meets West Coast
“My designs are a result of my NYC past colliding with my current LA lifestyle. Both cities are known for their style, with NYC exuding a darker, polished aesthetic while West Coast culture has a more laid-back, anything goes vibe. I was inspired to mix the two, to juxtapose the minimal silhouettes of NYC with edgy prints, graphic t-shirts, and plenty of print-mixing. For me, the two philosophies are harmonious because neither is about trend. Both are about creative expressions of style. Even women who don’t usually wear a lot of prints are drawn to the collection because it’s unique.”
~ designer Suzie Hamer
About the Designer:
Los Angeles-based designer Suzie Hamer is obsessed with prints. She began working with them at Nicole Miller, after graduating from Manhattan’s FIT. Hamer made her name as a designer working for Guess during their resurgence in the late 1990's. She became known for the wild animal prints she created for their printed denim collection, often featured in Guess's iconic advertising campaigns. Later, Hamer transitioned into Trend Direction, creating overall store concepts and designs for well-known retailers including Babystyle, Arden B, and Wet Seal.
In 2008, Hamer began working with current business partner Uri Harkham, who founded the Jonathan Martin company in 1975, as well as Harkham, Hype, and Hype Kids. Jonathan Martin specialized in women’s printed dresses and blouses. As a leader in the print business, Uri employed hundreds of people at several large manufacturing facilities in downtown Los Angeles. In the late 90's, Uri slowly moved production overseas. Today Uri is excited to be back in the local fashion industry with Hamer and their new label. "Launching HARK+HAMMER has been a dream. We live in an amazing city with so many talented citizens. I am so excited to be bringing things back to America, utilizing LA creativity while supporting local production. This is a dream.”
Corporate Responsibility Commitments:
- Supporting high-end fashion manufacturing in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, taking pride in utilizing local resources.
- Creating fabrics at fine Italian silk mills, while using advanced technology to reduce the environmental footprint.
- Producing philanthropy capsule collections, currently a t-shirt line showcasing original artwork by local artists, benefiting various worldwide causes. This season the S.T.D. by HARK+HAMMER is donating a percentage of proceeds to support Planned Parenthood.
- Building a sustainable, ethical, pro-woman and family-friendly enterprise under the direction of HARK+HAMMER and a professional team of highly creative women.
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