Ivy Style Interview With Heritage Brand Davey’s

Ivy Style editor and publisher Matthew Longcore had the opportunity to interview Davey’s CEO and owner Patrick French. Here is the transcript from the interview.

Matthew Longcore: Welcome and thank you for taking time to talk with us today. Let’s begin with heritage and continuity. Back in July, the Ivy Style article on the revival of Davey’s stated that “American manufacturing has long been woven into Davey’s identity.” Are all of your products still made in the USA?

Patrick French: While not every product in our collection is currently made domestically, we’ve made a concerted effort to bring more of our production back to the United States. Our Spring/Summer ’26 Quilted Bermuda Bags and our latest Fall/Winter ’26 Signature Tote Collection are both produced here in the USA. Our long-term goal is to continue building relationships with American manufacturers and suppliers who share our commitment to quality and preserving the traditions that have defined Davey’s since 1954. For us, it’s not simply about where a bag is made, but about maintaining the identity of the brand while creating something relevant for today’s customers.

Matthew Longcore: As you explained in the Ivy Syle article from July, in the early days of Davey’s, “The brand attracted women who appreciated quality and craftsmanship but had little interest in conspicuous displays of status.” How has your customer base evolved to include men?

Partrick French: I think as fashion has evolved, there’s been a greater acceptance of different styles of clothing and accessories, particularly among men. Bags are increasingly seen not only as fashion accessories but as practical items that serve a purpose in everyday life. Although Davey’s was historically associated with women’s handbags, men were never necessarily excluded from the brand. Certain signature styles, such as our clutches, wristlets, and Bermuda Bags, were traditionally marketed toward women. However, if you look through our archives, you will find many designs that were named after specific occupations and the functions they served, including the Carpenter Bag, Doctor Bag, Paperboy Bag, and Postman Bag. These were practical designs that could appeal to anyone, regardless of gender. As we continue developing new collections, we want to expand our range of sizes, silhouettes, and functions to accommodate different lifestyles and personal preferences. Ultimately, Davey’s has always been about individuality. We want our bags to be carried, used, and appreciated by people who see something of themselves in the designs.

Matthew Longcore: I have a madras patchwork tote bag from Davey’s which I love and use all the time. I would describe madras – a summer staple since the mid-20th century – as classic Ivy Style. What else does Davey’s offer that would be considered equally iconic?

Patrick French: One of the most recognizable signatures of Davey’s is undoubtedly the color navy. It’s been part of the brand’s identity for decades, appearing not only in our logo but throughout our archives in a wide range of styles and materials, including leather, suede, and canvas. Navy suede, in particular, is something we strongly associate with, which is why we chose to include it in our latest Fall/Winter ’26 Signature Tote Collection. Another defining characteristic of Davey’s is its longstanding use of distinctive fabrics, patterns, and textures. Madras patchwork is certainly one example, but throughout the archives, you will also find wool plaids, color-blocking, carpet-inspired fabrics, and tapestry designs. Of course, we also have the Bermuda Bag, which has become one of the most recognizable silhouettes associated with Davey’s. Its wooden handles and distinctive shape have remained important elements of the brand, and it’s a design we continue to revisit in different fabrics and interpretations.

Matthew Longcore: The new tote bags from Davey’s are particularly nice. I especially like the Signature Tote in patchwork plaid which is crafted in the USA using textured wool fabric from Johnson Woolen Mills in Vermont. Please tell us more about the new totes.

Patrick French: Our new Signature Collection Tote for Fall/Winter 2026 is very special as we sourced and produced all of our bags in the US with the production done here in the New York’s Garment District. The collection of three Tote bags got their name from the signature emblematic elements found throughout the history of Davey’s since 1954. The first would be the rich navy suede tote made from American hides that were sourced from a leather supplier here in New York. We wanted to have an option that wasn’t as loud as the other two totes. I would like to add that the Signature Tote in navy suede can be worn year round.

The second tote in the Signature Collection, as you mentioned, is a patchwork plaid. We are very happy to be working with Johnson Woolen Mills in Vermont. They were amazing in supplying their “Crazy” fabric which is yarn-dyed and engineered to create the appearance of a patchwork wool plaid, although the body is actually woven as one continuous piece of fabric. The shifting plaid pattern gives the bag the visual character of traditional patchwork without individual sewn-together squares.

The third Signature Tote plays on some original Davey’s vintage bags that used the color blocking pattern in more of a Mondrian-style. This pattern consists of red and navy cashmere panels and green and yellow panels in wool. Both the cashmere and the wool were supplied by American Woolen Company in Connecticut.

Matthew Longcore: Davey’s has a new collaboration with J. Press. How did that collaboration come about? Will there be a launch party?

Patrick French: The J. Press collaboration began when their team discovered our Madras Totes and reached out with interest in carrying them in their store, particularly the Watermelon Madras Tote for Spring. During our initial conversations, they also shared that they were exploring the development of a bag of their own and were interested in working with us to bring that idea to life.

While our initial discussions focused on Spring, we soon began exploring opportunities for Fall. We introduced them to the Signature Totes we had been developing, and they expressed interest in two styles, along with the possibility of creating a J. Press exclusive.

This led to the development of the Patchwork Schoolboy Scarf Tote. The Schoolboy muffler has long been a J. Press icon, while patchwork has been a recurring element of Davey’s design language since the brand’s founding in 1954, most notably through our use of Madras fabrics.

Working with Jack Carlson and the rest of the J. Press team has been a wonderful experience. Seeing all three totes featured in their recent New York fashion show was an exciting milestone for the collaboration, and we look forward to continuing to build on the partnership.

We plan on having an event to celebrate the launch sometime this fall (tentative date of November 11) and invite everyone to see and feel the bags for themselves. We will also be showcasing some items from the archive like old catalogues and ads, and a collection of vintage bags.

Matthew Longcore: Is there anything else about Davey’s that you would like to share with Ivy Style readers?

Patrick French: Before handbags, Davey’s started making and selling clothing and accessories like belts, belt hangers and other metal home accessories. While we will continue to build the breadth of our bag selection, we are very interested in making our own clothing line under the Davey’s label. We would love to hear from Ivy Style readers if there is anything they would like to see made, from scarves, catch-all trays, jackets, hats, belts, or anything else.