Photo: Amanda Anderson Photography
Metallic lambskin and fringe make a memorable pairing, especially on a tote that brings a little drama to an everyday wardrobe. Discovering that the designer behind it is building her brand right here in the Queen City makes it all the more interesting.
Neely Curtis Purcell launched McNeely Purcell in 2018, putting craftsmanship and individuality at the forefront of her designs. Her latest collection includes those eye-catching totes, with leather as soft as it is striking, alongside quilted fringe jackets that make a statement of their own this fall.
For this edition of Front Row Seat, I chat with Neely about what first drew her to fashion, the ideas behind her latest collection, and what she hopes to preserve as her brand grows. And I may or may not have put her in the fashion hot seat.
What first sparked your interest in design, and how did that interest eventually lead you to create McNeely Purcell?
I think I've always had a creative side, although it took me a little while to find my way to it professionally. I'm a North Carolina native and graduated from UNC–Chapel Hill, where I pursued a career in nursing and ultimately became a nurse practitioner. Fashion design certainly wasn't the path I originally envisioned!
After stepping away from my career to raise our two daughters, I found myself craving a creative outlet. I loved being home with my girls, but I also wanted them to see their mother pursuing something she was passionate about—taking a chance, building something, and hopefully showing them that it's never too late to explore a different side of yourself.
I've always appreciated beautiful materials, interesting textures, and pieces that feel a little different from everything else. That appreciation gradually evolved into the idea for McNeely Purcell, which I founded in 2018.
What began as a creative pursuit has grown very organically into a collection that reflects so many things I love: thoughtful craftsmanship, enduring style, and just enough flair to make a piece feel bespoke and special.
Who first influenced your eye for style? Is there something you learned from that person that still shows up in your work?
I don't know that I can attribute my sense of style to one particular person. I think it has been shaped by a collection of people, places, and experiences over the years.
Growing up in the South, I developed an appreciation for things that are beautifully made and thoughtfully kept. There's something very Southern about valuing craftsmanship, holding on to pieces you love, and understanding that the best things often become even more beautiful with age.
I also spent about a year in Dallas, Texas, after college, and I absolutely loved it. Texas has such a wonderful confidence when it comes to personal style. There's a willingness to be a little bold, to mix classic pieces with something unexpected, and not take fashion too seriously. I think that experience subconsciously influenced the Western undertones that find their way into my designs today.
Ultimately, I love the idea of a woman having her own point of view. Style is so much more interesting when it feels collected and personal rather than overly coordinated.
Photo: Amanda Anderson Photography
You’ve made producing in the United States central to McNeely Purcell. Why was that important to you, and how has working with American makers shaped what you create?
Producing in America was important to me from the very beginning, and it's something I'm incredibly proud to have maintained as the brand has grown. I've always believed how something is made matters just as much as how it looks. There's a tremendous amount of talent and craftsmanship here in the United States, and I wanted McNeely Purcell to be a small part of preserving and supporting those gifts.
Working with American makers has also given me a much deeper appreciation for the process itself. When you're working closely with the people actually constructing your pieces, you begin to understand the nuances of a material, the intricacies of a particular technique, and the amount of care that goes into getting even the smallest detail right.
Leather, in particular, is such a beautiful material to work with because it has character and evolves over time. We use hides that are by-products of the food industry, giving an existing material new purpose. I love that our pieces are designed not only to last but to soften, develop a patina, and become more personal with wear.
American production isn't always the easiest or most economical route, but it's an important part of our identity. I'd much rather create fewer, beautifully considered pieces than compromise on the things that make them special.
Let’s talk about the new collection. Who did you have in mind while designing it, and how do you envision her wearing the pieces in her everyday life?
I always design with a woman in mind who appreciates beautiful things but doesn't feel the need to save them for a special occasion.
She's confident in her own style, loves an unexpected detail, and understands that getting dressed should be fun. She might pair one of our fringed jackets with her favorite denim and flats for lunch, then wear that same jacket over something more polished for dinner. Or she might carry one of our metallic leather totes with an otherwise very understated outfit.
That's really what I love about accessories and statement pieces. They have the ability to completely change the personality of an outfit without requiring a whole new wardrobe.
With this collection, we've introduced new colorways in our signature Quilted Fringe Jackets and Leather Fringe Totes, along with a clear version of our Fringe Tote. I love playing with that contrast between familiar silhouettes and unexpected materials or finishes.
My hope is that these pieces become the things a woman reaches for again and again—not because they're trendy, but because they make her feel confident and radiant.
Photo: Amanda Anderson Photography
As a Charlotte-based designer, what’s your perspective on the long-debated question of whether Charlotte is a fashion city? How would you say the city has influenced you both as a designer and business owner?
I absolutely think Charlotte has a place in the fashion conversation, although perhaps not in the traditional sense of a New York or Paris.
What I love about Charlotte is that there's a wonderful balance of Southern tradition and a growing sense of individuality. Women here appreciate beautiful clothes and quality, but there's also an increasing willingness to experiment with personal style and support smaller, independent brands.
As a designer, I think Charlotte has given me the freedom to develop my own point of view without feeling obligated to follow whatever happens to be trending in the larger fashion markets.
And as a business owner, I've been incredibly appreciative of the relationships and support that come from building a brand in a community like this one. There's something special about the way people champion local businesses and genuinely want to see them succeed.
Let’s put you in the fashion hot seat for a moment. You describe your pieces as enduring “the passing of fickle trends.” Which fashion trends would you happily see retired, and are there any you can’t help but love?
Oh, this is a dangerous question!
I think I'd happily retire the idea that we need to reinvent our wardrobes every season. I'm not opposed to trends—fashion should be fun, after all—but I don't love the pressure to constantly buy something new simply because it's having a moment.
And I have to laugh because I design with fringe, which certainly has had its moment in and out of the spotlight! But to me, fringe is more of a design signature than a trend. We first incorporated fringe into our leather collars several years ago, and I love finding ways to reinterpret fringe that feels fresh and sophisticated rather than overly Western or costume-like.
As for trends I love, I'm always drawn to beautiful textures, interesting proportions, and a little unexpected color. I also love seeing women mix things that traditionally wouldn't go together—something very tailored with something playful, or a beautifully worn-in piece with a more elevated accessory. The more layers, the better!
Looking ahead, what would you like to explore next with McNeely Purcell, and what do you want to preserve as the brand grows?
There are so many things I'd love to explore creatively. I really enjoy working with unexpected materials, developing our own prints, and finding new ways to incorporate the leather details that have become so recognizable within the collection.
I'd love to continue expanding our accessories and ready-to-wear in a way that feels natural to the brand, always introducing something new while keeping a thread of familiarity running through each collection.
But as much as I look forward to growing McNeely Purcell, I'm equally mindful of what I don't want to change.
I never want to lose the personal nature of the business, our commitment to American craftsmanship, or the attention to detail that makes each piece feel special. I love being closely involved in the creative process, from choosing materials and developing prints to refining the smallest design details.
I think there's something increasingly meaningful about owning fewer things that you truly love—pieces that aren't disposable or tied to a particular season, but that become part of your story.
Ultimately, I want McNeely Purcell to continue evolving without losing the spirit that inspired it in the first place: beautifully made, a little unexpected, and meant to be loved for years to come.
