Launching my business

Since childhood, I’ve had an insatiable entrepreneurial spirit, matched only by my fervor for fashion and the environment. In college, I divided my free time between interning with an environmental nonprofit and designing clothing for my friends. I felt fulfilled by these hobbies, and decided to bring them together to create a business. Mountains of the Moon Eco.Fashion was born.

Unfortunately, I had little encouragement. At that time, the green movement wasn’t exactly popular, especially in the fashion industry. My peers were settling into well-paying, stable jobs, while I spent every waking hour behind a hand-me-down sewing machine. Friends and family bombarded me with pleas to give up and get a “real job.”

I refused to abandon my dream. I networked incessantly, learned accounting, website building and marketing, researched sustainable fabrics, and traveled to trade shows on a shoestring budget. Sadly, I was turned away by most buyers, who gave me praise for my design work, but chose not to carry eco-friendly clothing for fear of being stereotyped as earthy rather than chic.

One day, feeling particularly defeated by the rejections, I decided I was done.  While walking down a busy street, arms bursting with garment bags from a day of pleading with boutiques, I fell. Literally. Line sheets and fabric swatches scattered in every direction. Suppressing tears, I slowly stood up and dusted off my dress (which was one of my designs, now tainted with dirt and pigeon droppings). Then something magical happened. People began to stop – not to laugh or stare – but to compliment me on my dress. These random strangers loved my work, pigeon poop and all. When I explained how it was eco-friendly, their enthusiasm grew. I realized at that moment that I really could do this. I told myself that from now on, when I felt overcome by tribulations, I would remember this day, and I would use whatever adversity I faced as motivation to work even harder.

Today, my designs are carried by boutiques worldwide, featured in fashion and environmental magazines, and recently, were exhibited at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art. It wasn’t an easy or quick process, and I am still learning, but I did it. I did what everyone said I couldn’t do. Owning my own small business continues to present new challenges, but the simple concepts of hard work and perseverance remain key in helping me reach my goals.

Advice for others

When faced with obstacles, find ways to turn feelings of fear or defeat into fuel for your drive to succeed.  There are hundreds of practical steps necessary to starting and staying in business, but it is the straightforward concepts of hard work, passion for what you do, and a desire to learn that ultimately bring success.