Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Hoyt.
Hi Annie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started sewing at five years old. The first time I made a dress for my American Girl doll, I thought to myself, “This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.” I started my company, Deni, in 2020, when COVID hit and I took a gap year after high school. Deni is an adjustable apparel company that uses natural materials to make lifetime pieces. I started by sewing skirts out of a room in my parents’ house. I later went to school at the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State and majored in fashion and textile management with a concentration in product development and fashion merchandising. Upon receiving a job at the college, I was the first student employee to work in their new developing lab space called the Prototype Lab. The purpose of this lab space was to help entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life through the use of industry-level machines. With my time at NC State, I applied every class project and every teaching to my company, Deni, helping me further its foundation. I participated in a number of entrepreneurial accelerators and pitch competitions, including “Pitch It to the Pack” and “Andrews Launch Accelerator Program.” Since graduating, I have gone through several ups and downs in entrepreneurship, including partnering with a manufacturer, learning, adapting, and ultimately repositioning.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think that everyone in entrepreneurship can agree that it is never a smooth road. It is full of challenges, rejections, ups and downs, and hard dedication. That’s why community is so important, and I have been very blessed with the community and encouragement of entrepreneurs through NC State. Each accelerator that I complete holds an extensive alumni program where we are able to stay connected. Similarly, I am a part of a group with other young entrepreneurs facing the same challenges of burnout, imposter syndrome, and feeling lost. We all have dreams, ambition, drive, and passion, but we also face the same obstacles together. This makes the journey of entrepreneurship a whole lot less lonely.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Deni is an ethical, sustainable, adjustable apparel company. We use only the highest-quality natural fibers such as linen, cotton, wool, and silk, to create size-adjustable, long-lasting pieces. We’re known for innovative design, sustainable and ethical practices, and above all else, quality.
What I’m most proud of is how Deni began. It started as an idea in a bedroom at my parents’ house, and it’s now become a staple in my clients’ wardrobes.
What sets Deni apart most is the versatility of the garment, the way it changes with your body through menopause, pregnancy, illness, bloating, and the everyday shifts a woman’s body goes through. With Deni, you have clothing that always fits, no matter where life takes you.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me as the founder and designer is creating pieces that provide comfort, confidence, and reliability. Life can be stressful enough, the last thing we need to worry about is what we’re going to put on our bodies every day. My mission is to create reliable clothing that you reach for time and time again. Pieces that you can wear from work, to picking up the kids, to dinner with friends without having to change. Creating a skirt you can loosen after lunch, with pockets to keep your phone easily accessible. It’s important to me that my customers feel cared for through my designs. Cloth that is comfortable and kind to the skin. Functionality that allows you to stay comfortable all day. Clothing that provides convenience and confidence. This is my goal.
Pricing:
- $250 for our MVP 100% US MADE Linen Wrap with Pockets
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Deniofficial.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deni_officialco/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-hoyt-896853265/
