Michelle Hatch

HATCH--Michelle, has left this earth to design for a higher cause, peacefully dying in her beautiful home in Sag Harbor, NY on December 5, 2022.

Michelle was born May 8,1956 in Levittown, PA to Mary & James Hatch. She attended Neshaminy Senior High school, graduating in 1974. Michelle's true passion was fashion, which took her to NYC where she enrolled herself in the prestigious Parsons School of Design. This was a life changing decision which led to a design position at "The House of Ferragamo" in Florence, Italy. Michelle was assigned a desk to design purses and leather accessories. Her love affair with Italy had begun. Her next stop was Milan, designing for the force of fashion in the 90's, Donna Karan. Michelle committed a decade of her career to the brand. She was known for executing complicated details in accessories & handbag design and pursued just the right artisan to complete the vision. She developed elaborate relationships with factories, tanneries and hardware vendors. A former colleague noted that Donna would come up with an "idea" and Michelle would find just the right factory to execute Donna's vision. Her next chapter brought her back to NYC where she designed for Judith Leiber, St.John, Monsac, Sachin and Babi who partnered with Michelle to create her own label, MichelleHatchNY. Michelle also designed a home furnishing collection with show stopping embroidered pillows and throws that were in high demand with Interior Designers nationwide. In recent years, she assisted the designer Andrea Gomez in creating an extensive shoe collection. How fitting for Michelle to get to travel back to her favorite Italian cities while showing a young aspiring designer her Italy, her life. This was truly a gift as the next chapter was a difficult yet courageous battle fighting brain cancer. She has left an indelible mark on her family of friends who were inspired by her optimism and bravery she showed in the darkest of times.

Michelle is survived by her siblings Susan, Patricia, Mary Ellen and James. She loved her nieces and nephew, Allison, Taylor, Katarina, Elizabeth, Jacquelyn, Katherine, Patricia and Ryan. A memorial in Sag Harbor is planned for early May, email jennifer@mableyhandler.com for more info. In lieu of flowers, a donation to Memorial Sloan Kettering , NYC rare cancer dept in memory of Michelle Hatch is greatly appreciated. Ciao Bella..we all love and miss you terribly.