Biography
It has been said of Eric Javits that he does not just design accessories, he celebrates women. The Eric Javits look is instantly recognizable for its down to earth glamour. His trademark is elegance with gentility married to function. Eric's use of advanced fibers and his creative talent have made Hat wearing viable for the 21st. Century.
After attending Rhode Island School of Design, where he studied painting and sculpture, he became fascinated with the way various forms could flatter and alter the face. Thus he discovered Millinery, a medium that connected his love of art and his interest in fashion.
Eric Javits opened his women's hat business in 1985. Within a few years he became known as the hat designer of choice for the international set, royalty and prominent society ladies as well as those celebrated in the worlds of music, television and film industries. Ten years later he launched the Squishee® hat, a product which he designed and developed in response to changing lifestyle needs.
The Squishee® hat could be rolled up for travel and then spring back to its original shape undamaged. This hat, first introduced in 1995 is now widely recognized as having changed the course of the women's headwear market. The Squishee® concept evolved into an extensive collection of packable accessories; handbags were added in 1997, coordinating footwear in 2001 and most recently, small leather accessories such as wallets and wristlets.
Eric designs his collections to mix and match all three categories - headwear, footwear and handbags. The Footwear Collection has already been touted as having some of the most comfortable wearing and durable styles around. Eric's design concept of matching various accessories has provided a solution for women seeking to pull a look together effortlessly.
Eric Javits designs are brilliant objects d'art sold in the finest department and specialty stores throughout the United States. They are distributed internationally as well. His creations have been seen on the covers and editorial pages of such magazines as Vogue, WMagazine, Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Town & Country and Elle.
Eric has been honored for his outstanding design achievements by being named Hat Designer of the year and Hat Designer of the Decade 1990-1999.
He is a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and his designs are included in the archives of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. Eric is one of the accessory industry's foremost innovators, always-establishing important design directions followed by all.
As an artist in his own right, Eric Javits has enriched the accessory industry by creating designs which charm, endure and are fun to wear. Uncompromising design and intelligent luxury are the Hallmark of the Eric Javits brand.
A Diverse History
Eric Javits is an artist turned accessory designer.
In 1978 he designed his first hat right out of Art School for a friend who wanted to be noticed at the door of Studio 54. When Steve Rubell saw her approach wearing the black velvet pillbox hat that Eric had created, he ushered her in past the hundreds waiting on line outside. That night was the beginning of his creative journey in accessory design.
During the early years Eric's focus was designing exclusive high fashion head pieces. In the late 70's and early 80's he created hats for the Monet jewelry ads worn by Christina Ferrari. He also designed theatrical hats worn by Bette Midler for her concerts. That same year he created head pieces for the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. In the early 1980's Eric Javits designed hats for the fashion designer Adolfo, many of which were featured in Adolfo's advertising. For nine consecutive years beginning in 1984 Eric Javits designed the hats for Carolina Herrera's runway shows.
In 1986 Eric Javits was commissioned to create the hats and faux leopard skin stiletto shoes that Madonna wore for the Broadway production of "Speed the Plow". Between the years of 1986 and 1995 he created hats for the runway shows of numerous designers such as Donna Karan, Arnold Scaasi, Bob Mackie, Pauline Trigere and Mary McFadden.
In 1987 the city of New York presented Princes Diana with an Eric Javits hat at the British Consulate in New York City. In 1994 Eric Javits was the only American Hat Designer featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Exhibit "Flor", Fashion inspired by Flowers. In 1997 first Lady Hillary Clinton wore a hat designed by Eric Javits to Princess Diana's funeral. In 2002 first Lady Laura Bush wore a hat designed by Eric Javits to the Queen Mothers funeral.
Britney Spears wore an Eric Javits hat while performing at the MTV awards 2002. Alicia Keys wore an Eric Javits fedora while performing at the Super Bowl 2005. Eric Javits' design work has been prominently featured in numerous films and tv shows. Woody Allen's "Alice","Sex in the City", "Married to the Mob", "Bonfire of the Vanities", "Mr. T & the Women", "Big Momma's House II", "The Stepford Wives", "Will & Grace", "Desperate Housewives", "Dynasty" & "Gossip Girl" to name a few.
For the past ten years the Eric Javits firm has been the number one supplier of designer headwear and straw accessories at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales and Nordstroms.
Eric Javits is the inventor of Squishee and Shenia unique materials which he developed for the exclusive use of creating packable accessories. Today Eric Javits' collection includes Footwear, Handbags and hats that can be found in the best specialty stores throughout the United States.
The Squishee® Story
Back in 1995, Eric Javits had already been in the hat business for more than fifteen years. By that time, he had gained extensive design experience, a broad industry overview and encyclopedic knowledge of all the available hat making materials with which he could work. Eric recognized the need for straw sun hats that could be packed for travel without cracking or losing their shape, but none existed. There were lightweight straws, but they were too dressy and the heavier ones were great looking but frequently caused headaches because of their weight. Taking into account people's lifestyle needs, Eric embarked on developing a braid material that simulated the look of straw but was actually a composite of man made fibers. After a year of development time, Eric's goal was realized. The result was a straw-like material that was lightweight and flexible yet could be easily shaped. It had a wonderful feel, breathability, as well as ease of maintenance. Eric named the material Squishee® because that best described what it could do.
Because this unique hybrid Squishee® braid possessed characteristics ideal for accessory construction, Eric proceeded to design totes, handbags and shoes using it. The footwear collection is already being touted as the most comfortable wearing shoe around.
Today the terms Squishee® connotes an extensive line of hats, handbags and footwear offered in sophisticated neutrals as well as a "fruit bowl" of delicious colors.
Eric Javits is the originator of Squishee® and although there are now numerous imitations, none can match the original. Uncompromising quality has always been the trademark of all Eric Javits® designs.