Morgan Young
Courtesy of andagain.
Age || 23
Company Name || andagain
Job Title || co-founder & creative director
Years Living In New York || 1
Social Handles || @andagainco
Company Website || andagain
What did you want to be while growing up?
When I was growing up I was a competitive figure skater and dreamed of doing it my whole life. As I got older, and unfortunately dealt with a few injuries ending that dream, I really idolized my older brothers and wanted to be just like them. For a while I wanted to be a forensic scientist because I enjoyed science and math and my oldest brother is a biochemist.
What’s the best piece of advice you were given when you were creating andagain?
The best advice I ever received was from one of my mentors at school who told me that dealing with change and constantly looking for new solutions and ideas is a good thing and ultimately all part of the process.
How do you define success?
Success to me is always loving the process. Of course there are goals and dreams for the brand to be the top truly sustainable brand, but success to me is happiness with what I’m doing everyday.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned since starting out?
The most important thing that I’ve learned since starting out is that I don’t have all the answers. I think expanding your network and always talking to new people and collaborators is the best thing you can do to help, not only grow your brand, but grow as a person.
What made you interested in starting this brand?
My interest for starting this brand first came when I was taking a class about sustainability my freshman year of college. I thought, if there are this many old garments and left over materials in the world, there must be a way to continue to create beautiful fashions without harming the environment or other people.
How has your background helped you with andagain?
My background has helped me with andagain because I didn’t grow up only wanting to pursue fashion and the arts. I have always loved tons of different subjects and I think that has really helped me to see the world and business through several different lenses.
What is your go-to motivational quote?
Everything happens for a reason. It’s not super motivational but I think this is the most important thing to remember to stay level headed when running a business.
Which women inspire you?
Other female entrepreneurs and artists motivate me like Amber Vittoria, CJ Hendry and Casey Dworkin.
What is your creative process like?
I tend to get inspired by textures whether they are man-made or organic textures through nature. I love the idea of creating something that is visually different and teaching myself more ways to manipulate fabric. This always has me feel like there are endless options for designing.
What drew you to working with denim?
When I was in school I learned that it takes over 1000 gallons of water to create just one pair of jeans because of the water required to grow cotton and spin and dye the fabric. I thought that there needs to be a better way because denim has been a staple in everyone’s wardrobe for years and it’s definitely not going anywhere soon.
How have you worked to keep andagain sustainable?
We are constantly innovating the ways in which we can grow our business and remain as sustainable as possible. In the beginning, we were able to deconstruct vintage denim and create new garments from that. Since that point, we’ve work with other recycled fabrics like leather, but we have expanded into working on sourcing deadstock fabrics through partners like Queen of Raw and Fab Scrap! Now we have also started to incorporate elements of zero waste by patchworking the smallest of cutting scraps we have.
How do you overcome moments of self-doubt?
I think I have overcome moments of self-doubt by surrounding myself with really supportive people who are able to remind me of all the positive work I have been doing. It can be so easy to dwell on the negatives, especially in business, but every time I speak with my mentors and take a creative break, I am able to refocus and remind myself how far I have come since the beginning.
What is the hardest part about being your own boss?
I think it can be difficult because you push yourself so hard to achieve your goals that you can burn out and end up feeling very negative. Even though your goals might be huge and you want to find success quickly, you need to be reminded that nothing happens overnight and it is all a part of the process.
How do you handle situations where you feel overwhelmed?
Definitely sitting down with my business partner and talking through everything that needs to get done, and making prioritized lists. Also, taking a break from time to time is important.
What has been the most rewarding thing since starting andagain?
I feel really rewarded that I can inspire people to think deeper into their purchases and make a shift to a more sustainable way of life. I also love to see how my work has inspired other young female entrepreneurs to go after their dreams.
How have you worked to keep female empowerment at the core of your brand?
We are constantly working to create a community of inspired female entrepreneurs and creatives. We release blogs and interviews with really amazing people we have come into contact with which has helped to grow this community. We also partner with female artists, hire female interns, and mentor as many people as possible who might have questions about fashion, entrepreneurship, or anything that we might be able to help with!
What advice would you give to other women trying to enter your field?
I would advise women to really put yourself out there and connect with as many people as possible, whether it be through networking events or just reaching out to someone you admire. In the beginning, I was so nervous to speak to people about my business, but I realized once I was able to talk about what I was doing and open myself up to all the advice, I found really amazing things started to happen.
What are some of your goals moving forward for andagain?
Our goals are to grow andagain into the most transparent luxury apparel brand around and to really have an amazing community of women to inspire along the way. We are hoping to partner with some great retailers in the near future as well which is a big goal for us! Another goal is to be constantly innovating and figuring out more and more ways to be sustainable using new fabrics and fibers.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.