Meet Dorothy Harris of J. Harris Designs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dorothy Harris.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Dorothy. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
I am a 69 year old retired AT&T Mobility Sales Mgr who has recently ventured into a career as a fashion designer.  JHARRIS Designs is a labor of love that was driven by a need to fulfill my creative passion and my unwavering adoration for classic fashion.

JHARRIS Designs began when my cousin promised my nieces she would deliver to them a purse similar to the one she was carrying.   When my cousin’s contact for the purse was no longer available, she begged me to figure it out.  She had so much confidence and trust in me, I wanted to attempt it, even though I thought it would be impossible for me to accomplish.  As I did my research, my interest was peeked and it became the catalyst for my business.  The design of a classic clutch purse was very familiar to me so, I used the design as a template and transformed it into something I could call my own by combining beautiful fabrics and textures.  As my confidence and interest grew, I began doing trunk shows in the metro Atlanta area.  I began growing a strong following and an opportunity came for me to showcase my purses at a JCREW pop up shop in Avalon in Alpharetta, Ga.  The success of that pop up shop afforded me the opportunity for 3 subsequent events with JCREW, including one in Greensboro, NC.  My goal is to travel up the east coast with JCREW pop up shops.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I believe that your passion/dreams are always free but it’s the hustle, (to make your dreams come true) that cost extra!  I feel as though I’m out hustling daily to face and overcome challenges that threaten the growth of my business.  I expected there would be bumps and bruises, many attributed to being a novice in this industry. The ultimate challenge for me is the one I love the most, finding and combining textiles and fabrics to produce beautiful, classic, clutch purses.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the J. Harris Designs story. Tell us more about the business.
J Harris Designs is a classic clutch purse line that was designed to empower women, of any age, to be Bold in their fashion choices.  Each purse is made by hand, reversible,  (#fliptheflap) fully lined and come adorned with a tassel and/or charm. I use vegan leather,  various hides and luxe fabrics and textiles  Some of my fabrics I’ve hauled all the way from Marrakech, Morocco.  I truly believe that my purses are an artisan showcase.   The flurry of activity on social media and online sales has a direct correlation to my daughter Blair‘s efforts and energies.  I’m not exactly sure what spurred such interest in my purses, other than the purse’s quality & beauty but they have really  caught on and I am humbled and amazed!  We organically grew our Instagram following to approximately 2 thousand in 2 months!  While it may seem like a small accomplishment to some, it is a huge accomplishment to me!

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I honestly do not believe in luck!  The     momentum and excitement for my line at this time can only be attributed to God’s grace  and His timing!  Words of encouragement from my family and friends were all that I had to sustain me when I began this journey alone, 3 years ago.  I was just about to say goodbye to my dream when my daughter Blair became involved in January 2019.  She had given birth to my second grandson two years prior and couldn’t dedicate the time to help build.  Once she had time to devote, Blair became a powerhouse behind the scenes by identifying gaps and filling in the holes.   She played an integral role with my website design, social media marketing and opened up an entire new market of customers. She

is also a strong task master!   While we’re both involved in the business, we stay in our lanes; I handle the creative designs, manufacturing and packaging, Blair is the business / marketing manager.  We are growing this business together and we are both understanding the power of God’s timing, grace and favor!

Pricing:

• Couture line (Small: $125, Med: $150, Large: 175)
• Spring Line/Limited Editions (Small: $65, Med:$75, Large:$90)

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.thejharrisdesigns.com
• Phone: 770-371-6160
• Email: thejharrisdesigns@gmail.com
• Instagram: @thejharrisdesigns

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