By Elizabeth Harwood
Retired Severna Park High School teacher Rebecca Atwater was proudly nostalgic as she meandered through the world-renowned Bergdorf Goodman department store on Fifth Avenue in New York City.
I went into the tie department, and there were Davids ties hanging with his name and everything, Rebecca said.
Raised in Severna Park in a close-knit family, David Hart is truly the heart of David Hart And Co., a successful designer tie label in New York City with its first line inaugurated in 2009. Considering he graduated from Severna Park High School nine years earlier, this is quite an accomplishment for the now 28-year-old.
I always knew Id start my own collection, said Hart. I also knew Id have to pay my dues. Harts dues started at Severna Park High School after a guidance counselor directed him to Rebecca Atwater, a teacher who instructed clothing construction at the time (now called fashion design).
I remember when David first came to me and shared how he wanted to be a fashion designer, explained Atwater. I thought it was a lofty goal. Students sometimes think its all about the glamour, but its no walk in the park. Its a lot of hard work.
Upon first seeing Harts sketches, Atwater became curious about his talent. I was really blown away, she said. His sketches didnt look like high school sketches. They looked professional. Its not all too common I would see that level of talent.
David grabbed visibility opportunities, such as a school fashion show and a senior prom.
There was one dress in particular he designed that was absolutely breathtaking, high school friend Andrew Davidsburg shared. He used peacock feathers, and it got a lot of attention. It even got a write up in the Severna Park Voice!
With his parents learning about his passion alongside him, Hart was not only talented but also well supported. Yet the most overt due Hart has paid is how hard he chose to work.
David worked tirelessly, Atwater recalled. By far, he was the most motivated student I knew at the time. He was very focused and spent many lunch hours at school working on his craft.
With family roots in New York City, Hart felt at home when he attended Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), a prestigious fashion design school in New York City.
Ive always loved New York, Hart says. I love the energy of the city, so when I came to FIT for college, I fit right in.
College internships are how he began learning the inner workings of the business. After graduation, David worked for a range of designers, including Anna Sui, Tommy Hilfiger, and Ralph Lauren, all of which oriented him to the complexities of managing design calendars, sales, and production. Still, it became difficult for Hart to ignore his own big, real-life dreams.
I feel like running a business is going to be a challenge, David said. Balancing a business, a marriage, social life I dont want to say its going to be easy, but Ive never given up.
David Hart And Company ties are refreshingly different. The hand-tailored, hand cut and hand slip-stitched designs range from octopus, eyeglasses, and even Sputnik to elegant patterns that seem to relay between a contemporary and traditional vibe without overlooking the reminiscent bow tie. What stands out the most is an honest passion and genuine respect for the industry.
For more information on David Harts business, visit www.davidhartnyc.com.
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