Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Lagueruela.
Hi Megan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started Megan-Ilene after a few pivotal experiences. Like many fashion students, I entered college with the intent of working within the traditional industry. However, as I studied at SCAD, I learned about the harmful effects of said model on both people and the planet. That perspective, combined with graduating in 2008, led me to pursue other creative careers.
After several years working in marketing and US-based manufacturing, I realized there was a different, more ethical way to create. So, I took a leap of faith. With a loom, a website, and about $500 worth of fabric, I began applying to craft shows.
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?
Haha! Has any small business been a smooth road?? Constantly switching and wearing multiple hats, throughout the day, maintaining a high level of creativity while under pressure, successfully selling non-essential “luxury” goods during societal and economic upheaval…
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Megan-Ilene is a North Carolina-based fiber studio at the intersection of avant-garde design and rigorous zero-waste discipline. Led by 2025 Nest Fellowship Grantee Megan Lagueruela, the label transforms the traditional floor-loom and botanical alchemy into a sophisticated, scalable art-wear system.
The practice is defined by intuitive, zero waste weaving, a process that reclaims luxury textile off-fall into high-texture, multi-dimensional garments. By merging historical craft with modern material innovation, Megan-Ilene creates architectural silhouettes in natural, biodegradable fibers and designed for the discerning collector who prioritizes both ethics and an elevated, artful aesthetic.
Central to the mission is a commitment to inclusivity and domestic sustainability. Each piece is engineered in North Carolina with a focus on natural materials and living-wage production. By merging artisanal surface design with modern utility, Megan-Ilene offers a cohesive collection of live-in art for the discerning collector. Proving that the future of luxury is a closed-loop, artisan-driven narrative.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
You can purchase my products on my website, https://megan-ilene.com, at one of the various boutiques that carry me (stockist list, coming soon), come to an event that hosts me https://megan-ilene.com/pages/events, email me to collaborate or commission something at hello@megan-ilene.com
Pricing:
- https://megan-ilene.com/products/studio-woven-zero-waste-hooded-scarf
- https://megan-ilene.com/products/midnight-topper
- https://megan-ilene.com/products/blanket-scarf
Contact Info:
- Website: https://megan-ilene.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/megan.ilene
