Sara Annapolen went from working in the garment district to creating her own resort-wear line. | Photo courtesy of Sara Annapolen
After the pandemic, her business took on a more precise focus. “I wanted to inspire positivity by empowering women to be confident. I use color as a tool to awaken joy in the world because it’s what we need now more than ever,” she says.
Annapolen began to run her business out of her home office by using virtual meetings and digital platforms to connect with customers. Zoom shopping events were especially popular. She found incredible support for her business through local and mom groups, like Hustle Like a Mom, HudCo, and Hey Mama. “The community has been the best support system to help me grow my business,” she says.
Annapolen cherishes the flexibility of running her business out of her home the most. She has two little kids and will sometimes wake up early and work before spending time with them and taking them to school. The unexpected silver lining is that her kids are seeing her do something she is passionate about every day. “My son, who is turning 5, sees my rack of clothes and artwork and says, ‘Your work is so pretty. I love it, Mommy.’ I was like, ‘That’s an amazing silver lining.’”