Meet Lacy Scoggins | Creative for Change

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

Hi Lacy, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The thought process behind starting HDBL was more like a series of events that had been happening in my life. About 7 months prior to starting my business I had quit a very high stress job, working 60+ hours a week for almost 3 years. I stayed due to the job market, despite one month in seeing how incredibly toxic the work environment was. Thinking things would change and I wouldn’t be there long, telling myself anything to remain positive. After a year and half that positivity was nowhere to be found. I found myself completely withdrawn from my family and friends with zero social life. I was progressively becoming the worst version of myself, unrecognizable physically(lost so much weight) to some friends and family. When I finally hit my rock bottom the decision to leave was solely based on having literally nothing left to give. I no longer cared about my own well being, spiraling through my constant state of negativity. I had to self medicate to even get out of bed, which I hated myself for, to the point where I felt I didn’t deserve the happiness I saw in others. I became so deeply consumed with feelings of anger, hate, frustration, deep sadness, depression, shame and guilt. Everything felt TERRIBLE! I was dealing with a lot of pain and doing so behind closed doors.

Looking back now, for as long as I can remember I have been making important life decisions and giving my energy to people and ideas that didn’t align with my authentic self, trying to force myself to become someone that I thought others expected me to be. In turn sacrificing my own true needs and wants, due to insecurities and limiting self beliefs. Which I soon realized, because even after leaving that job I still felt all of those feelings and now even worse with no financial security. I was left to really take a look at my life and the events that led me here. I slowly started relearning myself and taking accountability for my past thoughts and actions. Little did I know at the time by doing so I was finally giving myself the power to change.

Then the Pandemic hits, I desperately needed a job, but that was uncontrollably out of my reach at that point. After coming to terms with this, I found myself alone, focusing on myself, practicing self care for once, and reading everything I could find on human design to better understand myself. Within a couple months I began to feel lighter emotionally and found myself naturally gravitating towards hobbies that had brought me joy in the past. One of which led me to hand dyeing fabric. I started dyeing baby outfits for my niece and nephews and really became obsessed with learning and practicing the art.

Still yet, my checking/savings had been depleted, credit cards maxed, debt piling up and I felt the dark scary cloud I was desperately trying to escape coming right back over me. One day my best friend since middle school, Jennifer, who was impressed by my work and knew I needed a source of income immediately suggested I start a small business doing just that! Which at first seemed insane to me….ME? No I can’t run a business, HAHA me? NO WAY!

But soon enough with her go getter attitude and my blossoming talent HDBL was born.

It has now been a year later! Since starting HDBL I’ve struggled with finding it’s direction. While using my creativity to make pretty things for people has been extremely healing, it is now time to evolve. I will continue doing the self work needed in order to be able to love myself and others from a place of true compassion. And given the current state of our social climate, the state of our beloved Mother Earth, and the racial injustices we continue to see everyday it is now time to use this platform we’ve built for the greater good of all.

My main focus now with HDBL is setting an intention of inspiring authentic self-love and acceptance, empathy and unity with every hand dyed product we offer. Through every color of her rainbow, we can and will, live and love abundantly together! Self love combined with empathy for others can be powerfully healing, for we are stronger together.

If HDBL can be a bright light amongst the darkness to help even ONE person in need, we’ll be successful. Because we now understand the profound positive energetic ripple effects that will take place within us all, reaching farther than we can imagine.

Please email handdyedbylacy@gmail.com for collaborations\partnerships or any ideas on how we can give back in a meaningful way or even if you just want to share your journey from darkness to the light.

I feel deep gratitude towards the amazing people who have played and continue to play essential roles in my healing process. I will forever be grateful for Jennifer and all the hard work she’s put into HDBL with marketing and trying(lol) to keep me organized. The inspiring realness along with the beautiful unwavering support my partner Joel has shown me along the way. (Whom I actually met during this time ha!) The support from my best friend Chanlee, whom I’ve always admired for her driven personality as she lives authentically and unapologetically as herself. My dearest friend Shayla who since the day I met her has been the brightest most shining light in my life, her happy and joyful energy feeds my soul. And last but not least my entire family(in-laws and cousins included), who despite my efforts to keep them at a distance have never given up and only stood stronger in their love for me. While I still have much work to do within myself and to make HDBL shine, please know that I love and appreciate each one of you more than I could ever explain in words.

One Love,
Lacy
HDBL

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve learned alot and continue to through daily challenges not only with the business but also within myself. Answering the first question led to a break through, one I’ve been desperately trying to find, HDBL’s new direction gives me so much excitement towards the future. We have set our intentions on inspiring self love and acceptance, empathy and unity through every hand dyed product we offer. Let’s live and heal in color together!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Fayetteville, Ar is a beautiful and inspiring city! It’s a wonderfully inviting and inclusive place, that has a little mix of everything.

First things first we’d have a boozy little brunch at Southern Fried Food Company and I’d highly encourage everyone to try my favorite meal which is a fried chicken base covered by homemade biscuits followed by a topping of eggs benedict and hollandaise sauce. Drooling now just writing about it!

Then we’d head off to my beloved little escapes, 410 vintage Market, Potters House and Fayetteville’s Funky Flea Market. There’s so many more I love, but we’d only have time for a few before we spent the late afternoon in Wilson Park. Just relaxing, talking and being together. Enjoying our lush green surroundings, losing our shoes to fully feel the grass between our toes.

Then because I’d already planned the first meal, I would probably take a poll on where we go for dinner. But since I get to be in charge for this I’d only give them two options. Meiji or Wasabi, both of which are sushi places. I can’t imagine anyone would have a problem with that though, given they have the best sushi I have ever tried. And that’s saying a little something, I’ve lived and travel many other places consuming all the sushi I can. After dinner and if they chose Wasabi then we’d be right where the action is, Dickson Street! Which is where we’d stay, drink and laugh the night away. Fayetteville is a huge college town, the University of Arkansas brings all walks of life and everyone finds themself on dickson street. Which is a long street of amazing little local artisan shops and different types of bars and clubs. This is where we would end our night right before we uber our happy little selves home!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So I definitely got a little ahead of myself earlier lol but yes I absolutely owe credit to the incredible people in my life who have helped me along the way.

I feel deep gratitude towards the amazing people who have played and continue to play essential roles in my healing process. I will forever be grateful for Jennifer and all the hard work she’s put into HDBL with marketing and trying(lol) to keep me organized. The inspiring realness along with the beautiful unwavering support my partner Joel has shown me along the way. (Whom I actually met during this time ha!) The support from my best friend Chanlee, whom I’ve always admired for her driven personality as she lives authentically and unapologetically as herself. My dearest friend Shayla who since the day I met her has been the brightest most shining light in my life, her happy and joyful energy feeds my soul. And last but not least my entire family(in-laws and cousins included), who despite my efforts to keep them at a distance have never given up and only stood stronger in their love for me. While I still have much work to do within myself and to make HDBL shine, please know that I love and appreciate each one of you more than I could ever explain in words.

Instagram: @handdyedbylacy

Facebook: @handdyedbylacy