Pursevere

Handbag Boutique, East Village, NYC


Display Screen Detail

On the eastern edge of New York City's East Village, Pursevere offers creative women a personalized sense of fashion in accessories. The curious will find a wide range of mostly one-of-a-kind handbags, hats, scarves, and jewelry. Vere Halstead, the proprietor, designs and produces handbags, scarves, and some hats, and depends on other talented designers to complete the selection. Ms. Halstead went to the School of Visual Arts and the Fashion Institute of Technology. After investing several years working in the "Industry", Ms. Halstead carved out this niche on the expanding edge of economic development on East Third Street.  In collaboration with architect Michael Costantin, she created an environment well suited to her products.  Divided between the making and selling of the product, Pursevere is a retail boutique in front and a production shop in the rear. The two areas are divided by a translucent wood-framed fiberglass partition which is strewn with bare wooden twigs that serve to display products. Another display wall is treated with celery-color fabric that backdrops glass shelving. Display millwork includes stained wood shelves and counters edged in aluminum and trimmed with brass screws. A modest budget led to imaginative ornamentation such as a ceiling chandelier composed of a stainless-steel wok skimmer from which issues a spray of curvy conduits each capped by a brass trimmed lamp.

The proprietor standing near a display counter with gift bags and other products, inside a room with a wall decorated with natural branch art and hats hanging on the wall. A large, custom chandelier with multiple light bulbs hangs from the ceiling.

Ms. Halstead at Work

Boutique Floor Plan

Interior of a store display with a custom chandelier, mannequin torso, and decorative tree branches with hanging handbags. The door has a sign with the word 'Pursevere' with hours of operation.

Evening Entry

A vitrine display with two pink quilted bags in the foreground. In the background, there are shelves with and objects and a mirror, as well as a black bag, a hanging black garment, and a translucent wall with product display.

Evening Vitrine

A black and white image of a floor-standing mirror, display rack with clothes hanging on it, lit by a ceiling light.

West Display

Hand-drawn sketch of a showroom interior, red accents, shelves, and a decorative partition.

Concept Sketch