Fair Harbor Co-Founder on Bootstrapping and Being Confident in Yourself
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Digital Content Manager Kristina Stidham interviews Caroline Danehy, co-founder and chief creative officer of Fair Harbor, a New York City-based sustainable swimwear company that makes swim shorts from recycled plastic bottles. Listen in as Danehy discusses her young career, the inspiration behind co-founding Fair Harbor alongside her brother, and the company’s focus on sustainability.
Danehy explains how the technology that converts plastic bottles into swimwear works, how Fair Harbor has recycled and reused over 2 million plastic bottles so far, and how the brand’s swimwear recycling program incentivizes consumers to send in old bathing suits for reuse while earning store credit. Danehy shares the process she went through when launching Fair Harbor with her brother, from winning a collegiate entrepreneurship competition to selling their first line of products at trunk shows. She discusses how she’s optimized Fair Harbor’s small team, the challenges the company has faced during COVID-19, and how the brand shifted its marketing to lean into the various ways that swim shorts can be worn at home. Danehy discusses the strong female mentors who have helped her during her career journey, the advice she would give to other young women starting a company, and what Fair Harbor has planned heading into 2021.
Caroline Danehy is the co-founder and chief creative officer of Fair Harbor, the thoughtfully designed clothing brand that provides ultra-comfortable, environmentally friendly beachwear made from recycled plastic bottles. A former fashion blogger with a love for the environment, Caroline launched the company with her brother, Jake, in 2015, while she was still in high school. During a semester abroad in Australia, Caroline saw firsthand the devastating global impact of plastic waste on the beaches and coral reefs, and knew she needed to be a part of the solution. A graduate of the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Caroline holds a geography degree from Colgate University and is a certified yoga instructor.
Date: July 28, 2020
Credits: Caroline Danehy
Duration: 18:25
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