Meet Elizabeth Haney | Founder of Here For You Clothing

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

Hi Elizabeth, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
My business helps the world because every time someone sees a stranger wearing “here for you” across their chest on an embroidered hoodie or a simple sticker on the back of a phone, they feel less alone. The more people wear my products and believe in my messaging, the more normalized talking about struggles surrounding mental health will become. Also, my products are universal. For kids, adults, seniors, and any and all genders. We offer youth to adult sizing and everything is unisex. This way, any human on earth can feel supported. There is no limit. “Here for you” is also universal. For someone who is having anxiety about an exam, all the way to someone who is undergoing cancer treatment. Knowing that the world is looking out for you, will change everything.

What should our readers know about your business?
In March of 2020, I was finishing my senior year at the University of Delaware, experiencing a very sad breakup—and then Covid-19 happened. I had been dealing with mental health challenges since the beginning of college. The combination of all these stresses caused my mental health to spiral out of control. I had not felt like myself; it was the most lost, hopeless and isolated I had ever felt.

I did not know how I was ever going to feel better, constantly battling with my brain. Fashion and dressing up seemed to give me a bit of an escape and distracted me, and I realized that colors gave me these calmer feelings, too.

When Covid began, I started tie-dying clothes for a distraction, and the process gave me satisfaction and something to look forward to. I felt able to wake up in the mornings now because I was going to see how my designs and different colors came out, and I had not felt that way in a long time. I followed this feeling and kept creating. I started selling some of my products on Instagram and, to my surprise, I sold out of everything really quickly, so I decided to make a website.

In May 2020, I had graduated college and accepted a corporate job with very long hours, leaving me with barely any time for creating clothes—and I was unhappy. I quit this job and accepted another one with shorter hours, less of a commute, and I was happier. However, the entire time I was there, I felt like I belonged somewhere else, that I was meant for something else.

I opened up to my new boss and told her how passionate I was about creating clothing and starting my own company. I apologized for telling her but she was inspired by my honesty and bravery and told me she believed in me. She suggested that I pursue Here For You full time and, a few weeks later, in mid-June 2021, I did just that.

Because of how significant mental health is in my life, I knew I had to build it into my brand. Over the years, I’ve learned tools and tactics to pull myself out of dark places; I know what it’s like to feel hopeless but I also know I can get myself out of that feeling, even when it’s not easy. And I know I can help other people; I’ve done it and I know it’s possible.

What sets me apart from others is our designs. They are so unique and they come from the heart. “Here For You” is something that my best friend Emma and I always said to one another when we were going through hard times. Even if we didn’t want to talk, or really know how to express what we were going through, we would say ‘here for you’ no matter what and know that we were thinking about one another and had that support.

“Here For You” is designed by Peter Stack. He assembled the font, colors, and placements of all the letters, creating an iconic and unforgettable pattern.

I believe another thing that sets us apart are not just our products but our community. I have been invited to share my story about my own mental health journey and how I found light within the darkness. I then talk about how every day for the rest of my life I will dedicate to spreading mental health awareness and normalizing the struggle because I believe if I knew it was okay to not be okay, I would have asked for help way earlier and suffered less.

I have been lucky enough to share my story with multiple high schools, middle schools, universities, and community centers. I am relatable and people resonate with me because I don’t hold back. I am raw when I speak and I show people real struggle, real pain, and then real light and real hope.

I am most proud of how passionate I am. I wake up every morning with an actual desire to help people find the light, and also keep seeing the light for myself.

I think this goes hand and hand but also I am so proud of my work ethic. I think because I am so passionate and I actually believe in the change that I am creating, I work so hard and am always thinking about my business.

I got where I am today because of the darkness that I have seen and also the people in my life. Without the really painful times, I would have not found myself. From suffering I found strength and every day I am grateful to be alive and have dedication to keep finding the light because I know what it feels like to truly believe that it is not there. But it always is, even when you can’t see it. The past pain gives me energy to fight and to prove that hope is always stronger than fear.

It has not been easy at all. I have struggled with time management and money. I have learned to forgive myself often, and that this will not fail unless I give up. It’s never been an option for me to stop what I am doing. The second I started I knew that this would be huge and that I would be in charge of this movement for the rest of my life.

I have learned so many things already, and it has only been two years. My most important lesson that I truly believe now is that you can be whoever you want to be. We create these scenarios in our heads of who we are supposed to be and the life we have to live, and that sets us up for who we become. I completely took a chance on myself and altered that story line. I took a route I never imagined myself in. I thought I was going to be a New York City party girl with a boyfriend, drink my mental health issues away, have a 9-5 corporate job, live in an apartment, get married and have kids, and be okay. Now I am an entrepreneur, talking about my mental health struggles I was ashamed of for years, living at home with my family, no stable income, single, sober, and I feel alive for the first time ever.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them to Chef’s table every morning to grab iced coffee and a homemade bagel, and then head to the beach to eat and hear the waves for some peace.

Then I would take them to a Cycle Bar class because they are so fun and make you feel so good! Next we would hit Firehouse Deli or The Pantry for some fresh incredible lunch food.

My favorite thing is walking so I would definitely drag them on a walk with me. I think walking is such a relaxing thing and great opportunity to get to ask questions about each other that you normally wouldn’t. Phones are away and then you have the ability to ask things like “what scares you most in life?” or “what is your favorite thing about yourself?” I LOVE CONVERSATIONS LIKE THIS.

I would probably take them to Sophie’s Pizza for dinner and get the salad pizza and their fun mock-tails they have on the menu. Of course a night would never end without ice cream. I genuinely believe life is better with ice cream. Sunny Daes would be visited every single evening.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mom, Kim Haney, taught me everything. She has a clothing business of her own and showed me the way from day 1. My other family members, Jake (twin) and Roger (dad) have never once doubted me and always poured love and support into my every day.

My best friend, Emma Kilbride sat me down about a year ago and told me she wanted to quit her job and join “Here For You” full time because she believed in me so much. RJ Van Deusen and Peter Stack have also taken a chance on me and have steered me down the path of success. These 3 humans are the brand.

Without encouragement from friends such as Jen Harding and Katie Southworth, I would not have had the confidence to embark on this journey full time. These friends are forever. They want the best for me and I know that they are the type of people who talk about me in conversations with random people and they bring up “Here For You” because they want me to succeed.

Marcy Haley is one of the greatest people to ever come into my life. She is the associate director and spiritual director at the Murphy Center on the campus of Fairfield University. She has showed me light in myself that I always pushed down, she has proved to me that love wins, to stand in my truth and that living an authentic life is the only way to live.

Untamed, by Glennon Doyle showed me that you can do anything you set your mind to. Also, to leave this world disappointing others is okay, but never disappoint yourself.

Website: https://hereforyouclothing.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hereforyouclothing/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hereforyouclothing

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hereforyouclothing/featured

Other: email: info@hereforyouclothing.com 15% discount code applied at checkout: SHOUTLA15

Image Credits
Photographers: Peter Stack & Renny Hunter