Harvé Benard

Harvé Benard is an established clothing brand founded in 1967 by Bernard and Morton Holtzman. At first, the brand’s apparel highlighted quality and modern fashion suitable for career women in throughout North and South America. The label spread through mid-range department stores, specialty stores, and in fashion catalogs.

The Holtzman brothers partnered with Harvey Goodman and all decided to ”Frenchify” their names to produce a more appealing and fashion-inclined label. From Harvey, it was turned into Harvé, and Benard, from Bernard.

Creating a name in the fashion industry was no easy task for the brothers, but it was a childhood dream they both wanted to turn into a reality. The delivery of goods in Manhattan’s garment center at the age of 13 was the first step in their involvement in the textile industry. Following the footsteps of their mother, Betty Levine, a member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, the Holtzman brothers, especially Bernard or Bernie, realized that this industry was their future.

While Bernie Holtzman was still in high school, he engaged himself in part-time jobs simply because he wanted to earn money to be able to start a business. Even if some of his jobs only paid 75 cents an hour, he was still determined to accept them all for the sake of his dream. Having his mind set on working full time, he accepted night classes in production at the Fashion Institute of Technology and worked as a shipping clerk in showrooms by day.

Before starting his own business, all his savings since high school were invested in stocks. After a year, his total investments surprisingly accounted to $30,000. This became his indicator for resignation of his current job, and the mentioned amount of money became his capital.

Despite his insufficient educational background in fashion, specifically in designing, he was still able to produce 6 suits that became his prime work, which earned Harvé Benard a spot in fashion industry history. The launch of these designs garnered an unexpected total sale of $1 million. Since then, the company became known for producing style staples in corporate attire for women. It created a distinct look by using proper coordination of color palettes, most especially for the neutral hues.

Harvé Benard offers seasonal collections of coats, outerwear, suits, and dresses for women and also men. Suits, tuxedos, blazers, and tie sets are among the numerous products they offer to the men’s department. Prior to the increase of customers and brand consumers, the brand expanded and created watches and clocks, watch gift sets, and even handbag and luggage products. In addition, ladies’ intimate apparel and sleepwear and hosiery for women, men, and children, were also launched. In the more recent years, they started its own sportswear and casualwear lines for men and women, in the hopes of creating a bigger market.

Focusing on creating smart and fashionable pieces, Holtzman chose simple and classic prints such as stripes and plaid, and solid color hues for typical workday attires and casual looks. His designs and styles are the usual preference of cosmopolitan and career women. Likewise, the company gives utmost importance on its production of quality but equally elegant coats.

Harvé Benard’s coat line produces coat made of llama wool, covert wool, and fur-trimmed wools for only $300 to $600. These are relatively cheaper compared to other American and European designer brands that sell them for at least $700, sometimes even priced at $1000. Consumer Digest once tagged the brand’s $195 model as the “best made suit for the price, dollar for dollar, in the industry.”

Recently, the brand released its first very own fragrance line, with two scents, ‘Precious Gold for Her’ and ‘Precious Gold for Him.’ These luxury perfumes are a mixture of citrus aromas with notes of herbs and florals.

Ultimately, Harvé Benard has no plans of slowing down despite the change and fast pace of the growing fashion industry. It continues to adapt and to create fashionable and timeless pieces for the urban men and women.