Profile: Ivy Cove founder, Ivy Moliver

No need to sacrifice fashion over function with Ivy Cove’s leather goods

By Eva Grunburg | Photos by Jacqueline Pilar

The age-old battle of fashion versus function has left few unscathed. But local brand Ivy Cove may have ended this battle for good. Ivy Cove and its founder, Ivy Moliver, have brilliantly married fashion and function with beautifully crafted leather pieces created with utility in mind. I sat down with Ivy Cove founder Ivy Moliver to learn about her brand, background, and more.

Before establishing her eponymous brand in Montecito, California, Ivy had roots in New York and an extensive background in the fashion industry for the past 25 years. In her experience with the manufacturing business, she worked with global luxury brands from initial sketch to final production as a vertical operation. Along the way, Ivy realized, “After all this experience, why not have your own line and brand?” And that’s what she did.

Ivy shared that she owns the manufacturing facility for Ivy Cove and controls the majority of the brand’s resources, a unique asset that separates Ivy Cove from other brands. The business discovered its niche by using its expertise as a manufacturer and supplier to provide the highest-quality products to its clientele. Shopping at Ivy Cove not only means supporting a local woman-owned business but also receiving products created with intention and expertise from a businesswoman who understands the process from conception to use in its entirety.

In addition to her extensive manufacturing background, Ivy is intimately familiar with the lifestyle her brand evokes. Gaining inspiration from her vacations in the French Riviera and her life in Montecito, Ivy Cove offers a collection for the coastal traveler who enjoys quality items with an “element of fun” to them, as Ivy says. A frequent traveler herself, Ivy understands the exact features to include in her products. “I always had to have a certain type of travel wallet, and a passport case that holds multiple currencies, or certain kinds of cosmetic toiletry bags and packing cubes,” she shares.

Every product, from women’s shoes to dog accessories, strikes a perfect balance between practicality and style, each donning the iconic logo of green for “Ivy” and blue for “Cove.” Ivy’s personal style shines through her classic pieces. “I love lots of colors and prints and mixing things together…like mixing something fun and bright with something classic to mix it up!” Her brand provides the classic complement to any outfit, home, or trip, meant to fit in and elevate your life wherever and whenever needed.

Ivy Cove’s products provide everything you could possibly want, from accessories to home goods. Ivy notes, “We feel like we have something for everyone and everything, for men, for women, for home, for travel, for home and entertaining, for babies—a little bit of everything.”

With three years of Ivy Cove under her belt, Ivy herself has had a huge impact on her community. Her local clientele has embraced the brand into their lifestyle, and Ivy Cove has given back to the area it calls home. As a sponsor for Girls Inc., Ivy donates a portion of profits and provides the organization with customized, branded pieces to further its mission of empowering young women. In addition, she works with the Santa Barbara Humane Society, giving the shelter items from her pet accessory line — and even got a visit from a dog ambassador!

In case you’re feeling spoiled with options, as Ivy Cove truly has it all, Ivy recommends some of her favorite items that make perfect gifts for the holidays or year-round. First, the Union Square Market Tote is the brand’s “hero item,” perfect for a trip to the farmer’s market or the beach. For the home, Ivy recommends any of her leather baskets or planters to elevate typical decor. For the golfer in your life, Ivy adores the Torrey Pines Golf Set. Ivy’s personal favorite items are the East West Tote and South Beach Bag, perfect for year-round use and versatile for any errand or event.