Lou Harvey Lou Harvey
STARTUP COSTS: ‘My dad gave me a loan for R76 000; I paid him back the very next month,’ says Lou.
TURNOVER: ‘I’ve never had to take another loan again. We now employ almost 100 people.’
You can usually spot a Lou Harvey bag from a mile away; her trademark patterns and vibrant colours radiate happiness. For almost two decades, Lou has been South Africa’s favourite ‘material girl’; these days she is spreading the word internationally, and branching out into homeware.
How did you get the nickname ‘Material Girl’?
Because designing textiles is what we do at Lou Harvey! My business is basically a print company. We launch new designs every year, and whatever we design, we put onto absolutely anything. This year we introduced a really cool yoga bag, a laptop bag and a tennis racket cover to add to the collection.
How did the Lou Harvey brand begin?
I studied fashion design in Durban, art in London and interior design in Joburg, which is where I started working as a decorator. After a while, I realised interior decorating wasn’t for me. I’m quite an introvert and always being in other people’s homes made me feel quite depleted. You’re constantly in someone else’s direct space, and there is no real boundary. It just felt too personal. But I was still very passionate about interiors. Launching Lou Harvey helped me to create a pocket in which I could be creative for myself.
How has being a mother inf luenced your brand?
I ended up back in Durban 18 years ago – it was a Friday. By that
Monday I was working with my sister, and we had started manufacturing cushions for Wetherlys and other big chains. I did all of this with a fourmonth-old on my hip. When I create my own products, my emphasis is always on functionality. It’s practical, but it’s fun, and everything is dualpurpose. I designed my own nappy bag, and it had to be the right shape and size because I had to fit everything inside it.
We love how colourful your bags are. How did you decide on your unique aesthetic?
My products have to be bright, fun, energetic and happy! I’m attracted to anything eye-catching. I love putting colours together and I am always inspired by antiques, my travels, movie sets and the ’70s. I really love the ’70s…
How do you create your prints?
I work very closely with a textile designer. Before she starts working on a new textile, I usually send through 1 001 ideas, then the two of us break it down and dissect what we like.
There are days when we just sit and play and play. But it’s the best thing and the most exciting part of my business. All my products are made right here in my factory in Durban. We have nearly 100 employees.
Tell us about your latest collaboration.
We created a unique local range for Mr Price Home. The designs feature sunbirds, giant roses and exotic prints to evoke a botanical paradise. It’s a beautiful range and it’s wonderful to see what they have created with my designs. We are also growing internationally.
We’re launching in Australia and are selling products in the US. We also have a massive lead from Japan, which was always a goal on my vision board – that’s where I wanted to be. I think people there are intrigued by the colours, and they love the quality.
What’s next for the brand?
We’re planning a new range of cushions and home décor. Soon you’ll be able to buy Lou Harvey wallpaper – it’s the perfect combination of my twin loves for interiors and textile design. It was inspired by exotic destinations like
Morocco and is a nod to current trends – think botanicals and geometrics – yet the wallpaper maintains a classic, timeless appeal. It is such a quick and easy way to beautify your home!
Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Doing a business course, even for a year, will never be time wasted. But once you have a business, it’s important to remember that you don’t necessarily get richer the bigger the business gets. You need to keep it as manageable as possible. When it’s big, your costs go up. Bigger isn’t always better.
Website: louharvey.co.za Instagram: @lou.harvey
‘My products have to be bright, fun, energetic and happy! I’m attracted to anything eye-catching.’