Today we’d like to introduce you to Meghan Herman.
Hi Meghan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in the 90s, the youngest of five, always trying to keep up with my older brothers. I started playing soccer at 4, and the 90s label, “tomboy” label stuck almost immediately. As I played D1 soccer at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, I realized I needed a creative outlet to balance the intensity of competition. That’s when I found my passion for textile and fashion design—a softer side of me I was excited to explore. It led me to study design at UW, then continue my education at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC.
After working with brands like Carolina Herrera and Anthropologie, I struggled to reconcile my two sides—the utilitarian “tomboy” and the romantic creative. In an “ultra-femme” apparel space, many of my designs were called “too masculine.” I felt boxed in, forced to pick one identity. But I realized it wasn’t just me—women have been put into boxes for too long. We’re multifaceted, and every side of us deserves to be celebrated.
From there, my career travels to factories in China and India opened my eyes to the harmful practices within the fashion industry. It was a wake-up call that made me rethink how fashion impacts people and the planet—especially women, who make up 75% of garment workers. Instead of sticking with the status quo, I realized I wanted to create something different: a brand that celebrates women in all their forms while ensuring an ethical, empowering, and respectful supply chain.
And that’s how HarperSage came to life. We make small-batch pieces in women-owned factories, mixing a little whimsy with bold spirit. Our goal is to support women at every turn—from our community to our supply chain—by creating clothes that truly reflect who they are. Each design celebrates the multifaceted nature of women, helping them embrace every part of themselves. I hope to inspire other women to believe they can be anything they want, even if those things seem like opposites!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road — but the bumps have shaped who we are today. We launched HarperSage just two months before the world shut down due to COVID, which meant navigating unprecedented uncertainty right from the start. On top of that, we’ve been entirely financially scrappy since day one. Growing the brand for the first four years without paid advertising or major marketing budgets was a challenge for a fashion brand, but it pushed us further to get scrappy and creative with grassroots marketing that ultimately built a loyal, and real authentic community that most massive D2C brands pay so much money to try to create.
We also spent these early years testing a variety of sales channels — from pop-ups to dropship consignment to direct-to-consumer — which required a lot of pivoting and learning on the fly. It wasn’t always easy to walk away from strategies that weren’t working, but staying flexible and persistent helped us find what felt right and sustainable for the long haul!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
HarperSage is a slow fashion brand designed to support the duality in all women — blending softness and strength, whimsy and function. We specialize in ethically made, small-batch clothing that’s thoughtfully designed here in Austin and produced in a woman-owned factory. Our pieces are meant to be worn on real days — the kind that start with a meeting and end with a spontaneous dinner with friends.
What sets us apart is our commitment to intentional design and responsible production. We don’t chase trends or overproduce — instead, we design timeless pieces with personality and purpose. Each style tells a story, from the embroidery details to the names we give them, and our customers often say our clothes make them feel something — like they’ve found a piece they’ll keep forever.
We’re most proud of the community we’ve built and the trust we’ve earned. Everything we do — from our in-person events to how we speak to customers — is grounded in kindness, creativity, and transparency. We want readers to know that when they shop HarperSage, they’re supporting a small, women-led team who care deeply about quality, ethics, and creating clothing that truly connects.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Don’t wait until everything is “perfect” to start — start with what you have, and let things evolve. So much of building a business is learning by doing, and the path will never be linear. The early days can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re bootstrapping or wearing every hat, but trust that your resourcefulness is one of your greatest assets.
One thing I wish I knew when starting out is that growth takes time, and that’s not a bad thing. There’s so much pressure to scale quickly, but slow, intentional growth can actually build a stronger foundation and more loyal community. Also — not every opportunity is the right one. It’s okay (and often necessary!) to say no in order to stay true to your vision.
Surround yourself with people who believe in you, even when things feel uncertain. Persistence, creativity, and a little bit of delusional optimism go a long way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://harpersage.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopharpersage/?hl=en
