Despite big brands taking over, one sustainable fashion designer is determined to keep Austin's South Congress feeling local
AUSTIN, Texas — This week, a new pop-up shop with a local Austin designer opened on South Congress Avenue, a street that seems to constantly be changing .
"My hope for the street is that, you know, we can continue to hang on to some of these independent, you know, local shops and artists," said Meghan Herman, founder and designer of HarperSage.
Herman created her lifestyle and clothing brand called HarperSage back in 2019. The brand's tagline is "locally designed, ethically made."
"I use all natural fibers and fabrics, and I would say 98% is all deadstock fabrics, so during my trips to India, I personally go and hand source," Herman said.
Deadstock fabric is essentially left-over fabric that other larger fashion labels will discard, even though it is in pristine condition. Herman gets that fabric, then adds her own prints and embroideries on it.
Herman also works with a women-owned factory in India that she personally visits two to three times per year to meet with the women who run it. The factory is also SEDEX certified, which means every worker has ethical working conditions and wages.
Equally important to Herman is incorporating local artists and makers in her storefront. All throughout the store, there are pieces from several of her favorites, like Emily Eisenhart , who painted the mural on the door, Howdy Ceramics and dumpster fire goods , who does all the crochet pieces.
Keeping local artists and designers on South Congress is something Herman is passionate about.
"I don't want to rag on the national big brands," Herman said. "It's nice to have like Birkenstock and other people, but people want to come and support and get that flavor, so if it's gonna all go away, then I feel like Austin's going to lose its flavor."
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HarperSage opened a smaller pop-up down the street a few months ago before opening this new longer-form pop up on the 1700 block of South Congress Ave., which Herman says is all family owned and filled with other small businesses.
"The Austin community of small business and artists is so good," Herman said. "We all kind of help each other."
Visitors like Charlotte Stilwell, who's visiting Austin for the weekend from Greenville, South Carolina, says keeping local businesses around is extremely important.
"If you go to the local boutiques, you really find what makes each city special," Stilwell said.
Stilwell says it's also a chance to get to know local artists and creators.
"I mean, you come into a store and really, it's a story," Stilwell said. "You learn a little bit about who they are and, the designer behind the brand, and you're able to go away with something really special."
The name HarperSage, according to Herman, comes from two "alter egos" she has. She grew up as the youngest of five kids and was always called the tomboy. After studying textile design at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, she moved to New York and started designing for high-end brands like Carolina Herrera.
But some of her designs were deemed too masculine, which got Herman thinking.
"I never understood, you know, why as women we have to be put into one singular box," Herman said.
So, the first part: Harper, speaks to her more romantic, flowy dresses and floral embroidery styles, and the second: Sage, speaks to her more sporty and dressed down style.
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These past few months of having her first pop-up on South Congress, Herman says she's found a home with other supportive small businesses.
"I haven't felt anything like it in other cities, which is genuine support from the small business community and the maker community," Herman said. "Like truly genuine, people really want to help. They show up. It's not just like talking about it like they're here at 4 a.m. helping build things."
Herman's new pop-up on 1714 South Congress will run from now until Dec. 31. It will be open on Mondays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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