DON JAYY—remember the name. This is the alter ego of Hult alum Donald Harvey who has become a brand that swings big in the fashion industry. Don never intended to start a career in fashion, let alone becoming a top stylist while he was at Hult. Attending Hult from 2018-2022 with a Master’s in Marketing, Don only really turned his attention to fashion and styling when tasked with a unique global situation. 

The pandemic  

If the dates 2018-2022 feel significant it’s because they were for the entire world. With a whole world locked up, many took the time to self-reflect, often making drastic life decisions. For Don, this meant taking style, which was at most a strong passion at this point, and turning it into a business. Marketing blended itself well with building a brand and expanding his network. Don had all the tools and time at his disposal to create what would become DON JAYY—and so he did. 

When Don met Caryn 

Dr. Caryn Pang has been Hult’s fashion marketing guru for years, and with Don’s choice of degree, the two were on course for a meeting that would launch DON JAYY into a new life stage. Don cites Dr. Pang as a leading figure in his fashion marketing education and a close friend beyond his studies. They cemented their personal and professional bond when Don styled Caryn for a recent Tedx talk. When Don speaks about how he decided to style Caryn for her talk, he uses one word—timeless. It’s the same aesthetic that he has applied to all his ideas for styling. 

Further influences  

Creativity is never sourced from a single wellspring. Influences abound for Don, who uses a range of sources to inspire his own designs and ideas. The person who influenced Don the most in his career is celebrity stylist, Law Roach. Law’s talent for turning their career from fashion stylist into a real business is the blueprint for success that Don would like to mirror. It’s not just his people, but his environment that has shaped Don’s visions, mainly he cites his Christian upbringing and sense of spirituality that gives him the confidence to keep making bold choices.  

The process 

Styling different clients means being a chameleon. Don realizes that each client’s needs will differ depending on the level of influence they want. Some like Don to come up with fully formed ideas, while others prefer to workshop things together. Overall, Don has been working as a stylist for four years and throughout that time he’s had some real success. A piece he designed early on went viral, he has been featured in Essence magazine, and, the pick of the bunch, he worked on a campaign for Vogue Australia, with her inspiration, Law Roach. 

The future  

Don attends New York Fashion Week each year he can, seeing it as a place where stylists can authentically showcase their vision and set trends, rather than just follow them. He is focused on continuing to build his personal brand, DON JAYY, which includes an accessory line featuring vintage-inspired gold jewelry. His long-term goal is to expand his reach and impact, having his designs and styling work incorporated into the lives of a wider audience. 

There are always young, hungry stylists taking on the fashion industry, but few have the practical, hands-on education Hult provides. Don’s unique background in marketing and connections to both worlds in Dr. Caryn Pang have served as a launchpad to take his career to new heights.  For a look at our master’s programs and where they can take you, check out our brochure.