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 “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 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!