Meet Megan Huntz: Fashion Design & Shop Owner

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

Hi Megan, how do you think about risk?
Uncertainty has been a major theme of 2020. I’ve had a lot of people say, out of concern, that in my line of work the degree of uncertainty in 2020 must be very challenging. This is true, but the gray, nebulous space of uncertainty is not unfamiliar territory for me. Risk has always played a role in my career: from studying and working in Italy (without having previously known the language) to returning to Atlanta as a fashion designer, which isn’t a city particularly characterized for its booming fashion industry, to starting my own fashion collection and being determined to manufacture locally and ethically, to opening my own boutique 2 years ago. Although most of the decision making that I’ve done in my career has been carefully weighed, none of my decisions have ever been risk-free, and I’d say that my intuition has been much more of a guide than anything else. I can’t speak for anyone else, but being creative requires risk. When I sit at the drawing board, I have to take a leap into the unknown in order to begin to create. When I develop a new collection a year in advance, I have a gut feeling that it will fulfill the needs and desires of my customers, but how can I really be sure? I can’t. When I open the doors of the shop, I hope that incredible people come in and buy the products that I’ve curated to share with them, but again, it’s a risk. Now that we are looking towards the end of this crazy year, I am grateful that I have so much experience with risk because it prepared me to take each step forward through this uncertain time. It has not been easy, and it’s not likely to be easy any time soon, but I’ll keep on taking the risk of showing up until we get through this mess. To risk is to believe. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Every day, you go out and live your best life. Every day, I work on fashion that is connected to a deeper way of living. Known for its clean lines yet undeniable feminine touch, the line has become a favorite of creative women, of all ages and all backgrounds. With a practical eye, modern influences and a love for silk, the collection includes statement dresses and separates that transition from day to evening and transcend the seasons. Your fashion reflects your values: from the design, to the fabrics and the quality, to the way it’s made. By choosing to shop with independent designer like me, you aren’t just buying a piece of clothing, you are supporting an ecosystem. One that’s built on local contractors and creative entrepreneurs—many of whom, like me, are women who have chosen a path less traveled in pursuit of their purpose. When you shop small, the bulk of the money you spend and most of your taxes stay local in circulation, which really contributes to a thriving, and unique community.   Whether you favor owning an abundance of unique design pieces or you prefer a fewer-but-better philosophy, I believe in the deliberateness in your decision making. I, too, have been intentional in the way that I make my clothing—by insisting on beautiful fits and sewing details, fair and ethical manufacturing using quality, natural fibers, and creating as little waste as possible. I’m passionate about conscious, well-crafted design that is Made in the USA. I work hand-in-hand with my manufacturer in Atlanta. I’m known mostly for my use of silk, and other natural fibers, but I also create limited editions using vintage and dead-stock fabrics. This plays an important part in my point of view on sustainability: taking something that would otherwise be wasted and turning it into something beautiful, coveted and perhaps most importantly, in-disposable.

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?
Shop: Brick+Mortar Billy Reid East Fork Little Barn Apothecary Youngblood Boutique Highland Row Antiques Elemental Spirits Sustainable Home Goods Clothing Warehouse Bella Cucina Sabot Mani-Pedi: The Water Room Brunch/Lunch: Muchacho Bread&Butterfly Gato Taco Stand: Supremo Drinks/Dinner: Kimball House 8 Arm Bocca Lupo Miller Union Get a picnic lunch from: Alon’s Candler Park Market Grant Park Market Evergreen Butcher&Baker Spots for a perfect picnic: Olmstead Linear Parks Oakland Cemetery Grant Park See a show at: The Earl 529 Visit: The Atlanta Botanical Garden High Museum

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Before I opened my shop in Sept of 2018, I had a shop-in-shop with Brick+Mortar. (We actually won a “Best of Atlanta” award from Atlanta Magazine for it!) In Sept of 2016, I had been introduced to David Kowalski and was ready to do a month long pop-up, with a little 2-rack set-up. It went so well, and David and I got along so well that a month turned into 2 months, then extended to the end of the year, and before we knew it, 2 years of working together had passed in a flash. Aesthetically our brands are a good match, but we also attract many of the same shoppers, and we have similar values and working styles. I learned a tremendous amount from David about what it means to manage a shop and build a community around it. Because I had this experience, I was able to see a clear path for myself and my own brand and I’m forever grateful. So, my shoutout goes to Brick+Mortar, one of my favorite shops on the planet.

Website: www.meganhuntz.com
Instagram: meganhuntz
Linkedin: meganhuntz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopmeganhuntz

Image Credits
Leah Roth