BABES IN HART: Harper Poe

I'm so delighted for my friend, muse and mentor Harper Poe to be the first woman featured in this new blog series highlighting the badass babes based in Charleston, SC. Harper is the creative force behind her fashion company, Proud Mary. She is FORCE of positive change in the fashion industry. 

What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve been given?  Just keep at it.

How do you define success?  Being able to have the flexibility to  live my life on my terms.

What are your character traits you are most proud of?  Generous and adventurous

How do you build yourself back-up after facing disappointment?  Think about the relationships I have made and how I have made an impact on people’s lives all over the world. Something I am proud of and that keeps me going.

What’s your favorite part about your running Proud Mary? Travel

What called you to your line of work? Do you remember when you first learned about it?  I was taking classes at NYU in global affairs and had become really interested in poverty alleviation and international development work. I wanted to “help” people whatever that means but I quit  my job working for a contractor in NYC and went to Chile to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and met these women weavers making some clothing and that was my lightbulb moment. I knew that my community would love their products given the right design direction and that they could make a real living doing the work they were already doing with access to a larger market.

What quotation/motto inspires you to be your best self? Be Fearlessly Authentic

You're in a creative rut... how do you get out of it?  Spending time outside.

Name something in your work that keeps you up at night.  Cash flow is tricky in this type of business so that is a constant stress but I try not to be led by fear if at all possible:)