Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Evetta Petty. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Evetta with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My work ethic comes from watching my mother, Maxine and my aunt Eva. My aunt was a registered nurse that worked in cancer research. She was also a stylist, and she sold clothing and cosmetics on the side. My mother was a teacher, a very skilled seamstress and tailor, and a tax preparer. She was a single mother of 4 children. These 2 phenomenal women knew how to make money and provide for their family. I participated in all of their pop up shops and learned how to sew at a young age. I had my own earring business at age 10. I would make earrings and sell them to my aunt’s sorority sisters at their meetings. I understood very early that hard work was essential to a good life
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Harlem’s Heaven Hat Shop specializes in upscale designer hats . My name is Evetta Petty and I have been designing hats in my Harlem shop for over 30 years. My hats have gained worldwide attention. It has been many years of hard work to see my hats on the pages of Vogue, Essence, Marie Claire, The NY Times, and the cover of Harper’s Bazaar. I help people dress up for important moments in their life. My hats are worn to the Kentucky Derby, The Conservancy Luncheon, the Royal Ascot Races in England, weddings, and other hat required events. My hat story has been covered on CNN Great Big Story, NBC, NHK, and PIX11 News. My hats have been exhibited as wearable art in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I am proud to be a part of the rich history of Harlem, a vibrant community with a great sense of style. In addition to my dramatic, over the top headwear, I have created a collection of attractive lightweight hats for people suffering from hair loss. There was a void in the market for a comfortable hat for cancer patients that was also flattering. With my unique skill set, I designed these small hats with a fashion forward edge. I have a great affection for the Harlem community and I believe in giving back. My mission is not just to sell hats to customers to enhance their appearance, but to educate them of the need to wear a hat for sun protection. Every year, for the past 10 years before covid, in June on National Hat Day, I give away 400 sun hats, free of charge at my shop to give awareness of the need to prevent skin cancer. This is a collaboration with the Headwear Association that I brought to Harlem. It is attended by many people from the tri-state area. During the pandemic, I gave away free sun hats on Instagram. This year, I resumed the event in person.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I have great design skills. I have been influenced by world travels and architecture.
I developed my sewing skills at a young age.
If you are early in your journey, study and research your fields of interest constantly.
Find a mentor.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
My ideal client is a stylish woman who is very social. She always has events to attend and always needs new outfits and a matching hat.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.harlemsheaven.com
- Instagram: harlemsheavenhats
- Facebook: Harlem’s Heaven Fan Page
- Linkedin: Evetta Petty
- Twitter: harlemsheavenhats
Image Credits
Richard Simpson Manonce
