In the age of Instagram influencers and an overwhelming amount of fashion brands popping up with every scroll, how do consumers decide which one to support? Increasingly, women (and men) are going with brands that are not only sustainable, but also promote ethical values. Here, we introduce HarperSage, a women’s fashion brand with a cause: human trafficking.

Human trafficking affects an estimated 40.3 million people worldwide, and the garment industry is the second highest contributor to known cases. When the brand’s co-founders met at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, they didn’t yet know that they would embark on this entrepreneurial venture together. Fast forward to today, the duo is making a positive impact not only with survivors of human trafficking but also on the industry.

Meghan and Leah met in New York after relocating to the city from very different parts of the country. Their shared interest in supporting women and contributing to a good cause eventually brought them together, and HarperSage was born.

Meghan, who was intrigued by the design process from start to finish, travelled to India and China to see the ins and outs of manufacturing. She there discovered the darkness of the supply chain and knew that consumers were not aware of what’s going on. When it was time to pick a factory for HarperSage, the duo wanted to fully commit to working with women. So, they went with a women-owned factory in India.

Meghan in India. Photo courtesy of HarperSage.

“In an ideal world I would love to design locally,” said Meghan, “but there’s something to be said about getting fabrics and artisanal techniques that you can’t get here.”

Now, to the mission. At its core, HarperSage has a social mission that its founders are committed to pushing forward. The whole business is created around the cause of human trafficking, which is not hidden in the fine-print but instead very visibly promoted.

“We’re not doing the types of things that are easy but we’re doing the types of things that we think really matter,” said Leah.

They work with a nonprofit called My Sister’s Place, a partnership that began years ago when Leah organized a fundraising event and later designed garments that reflected the experiences of a number of human trafficking survivors. The partnership has since blossomed, and HarperSage supports My Sister’s Place with a community bracelet that can be purchased on their website. For every bracelet purchased, one is given to a survivor, and proceeds support the nonprofit.

Community bracelet. Photo by Emerald Layne.

Good stuff aside, both Meghan and Leah are open to highlighting the struggles of being business owners. The transition from making HarperSage an idea to a business been easy. A word of advice for other budding entrepreneurs?

“Continue to believe in your own mission and finding the odd balance of business and your passion,” said Meghan.

To learn more and start shopping, visit HarperSage.com.

Meet HarperSage, the Fashion Brand Fighting Human Trafficking