We had the good fortune of connecting with Alisa Harrison and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alisa, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
Starting a business has taught me that things are not going to always go my way, no matter how much I research and plan. The key is to push through. Do not give up.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
In 2019, I launched the women’s wear brand Harrison Hollis®. The goal was to provide small capsules of ethically-made clothing to women who love to travel and value minimalist pieces. All of our production is in the USA. Because the fashion industry has a waste problem, we’ve made it a goal to remain a small-batch brand in order to limit excess waste during the production process. That also means that we do not follow the traditional Spring/Summer, Fall/Winter fashion calendar. I’m quite enthusiastic about what we have coming in the pipeline. Over the next six months, our customers will begin to see a fresh new look with our branding. We will also introduce more sustainable collections. Not only are we more intentional when it comes to fabric sourcing, but we’ve become more innovative on the design side. We want to offer options that women are proud to wear—eco-friendly options.

Although there are a lot of exciting things coming up for the brand, getting the business off the ground was not an easy task. Because I transitioned from a corporate environment to a creative environment, not only did I have to learn the manufacturing process, but I also had to incorporate a lot of new technology and software into the business, as well as learn how to navigate the digital world. Then add all of the legal, administrative, and startup tasks that had to be done and you have yourself months of work to do before you even get started. It has been an emotional rollercoaster, but I’m still surviving.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Whenever guests come into town, I make it a point to introduce them to my favorite hangout spots. Because I live in Frisco, my go-to spot is Legacy West—right up the street in Plano—particularly Legacy West Food Hall. Their balconies were made for Summer breezes. So that my guests can get a taste of what DFW life is all about, I show them around Knox-Henderson, Deep Ellum, and the Dallas Farmers Market. My list of must-try restaurants include: Jonathon’s Oak Cliff for brunch (Dallas) Little Katana for sushi (Knox-Henderson) Intermezzo for dessert (Plano)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My cheerleader and greatest encourager has been my husband, Aaron. He’s witnessed the behind-the-scenes highs and lows of starting this business. It’s truly been a blessing to have him in my corner.

Website: https://harrisonhollis.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopharrisonhollis

Image Credits
Alisa Harrison