Life & Work with Megan Smith of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Smith.

Hi Megan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Megan Renee is my women’s contemporary brand, which I founded in 2017. Fully designed and create in LA. The brand was birthed from my desire to create elevated, boldly expressive fashion after years of working behind the scenes designing private labels for several fashion companies. Sustainability is core to how I work—I keep inventory intentionally minimal, produce locally, and use deadstock fabrics whenever possible.

My brand gained wider attention after my breakout moment on Amazon Prime’s Making the Cut, where I received recognition from industry icons like Naomi Campbell. Since then, my designs have been worn by women I deeply admire, including Issa Rae, Michelle Williams, Viola Davis, Jennifer Hudson, and Sheryl Lee Ralph just to name a few.

The brand has also had several successful retail collaborations with retailers such as Nordstrom and HSN. We are currently gearing up for our official HSN launch on February 5th and a Macy’s pop up event as well.

At its heart, Megan Renee is inspired by the strength and beauty of women. The brand is known for confident femininity—standout prints, sculptural silhouettes, and a modern boldness that redefines statement dressing in a way that still feels wearable.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Resources for minority fashion designers are limited and one of our biggest struggles was obtaining working capital to fufill large production orders and continue operations. I funded my brand completely from bootstrapping and with the help of grants. I’ve also worked full time designing for other brands in addition to running my brand. Scaling a fashion brand takes a lot of work but as of today we are heading in the right direction.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a fashion designer and the founder of Megan Renee, a women’s contemporary brand I launched in 2017. I design and my work is rooted in creating elevated, boldly expressive pieces that feel powerful, wearable, and modern. After spending years behind the scenes designing for private labels, I wanted to build a brand that was unapologetically confident and centered around the strength and beauty of women.

I specialize in statement dressing—standout prints, sculptural silhouettes, and pieces that feel both feminine and strong. The brand is known for confident femininity and modern boldness, designed for women who want their clothes to make an impression without sacrificing ease or wearability.

One of my proudest moments was winning a Tommy Hilfiger design competition where we were challenged to recreate iconic looks. I loved the peices I created and it was an amazing experience! I’m also very proud that I get to have powerful women in my collection.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
My advice for any designers looking to launch a brand is to start doing one thing at a time. When you look at the goal of launching a fashion brand it seems overwhelming but attacking one tasks at a time is how you build momentum.

Also I tell designers to focus in on what they do best and narrow down your aesthetic and design point of view early on. The fashion industry is saturated with noise and a lot of competition but owning your own lane and voice is how you set yourself apart. Another tip is to make sure your brand visuals are tight and clean. I tell designers to put most of their resources into photo shoots, websites etc. Do not waste money on runway shows or PR. Those things will not create the best return on your investment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://meganrenee.co/
• Instagram: @meganrenee.co
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@meganrenee.co?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Image Credits
Photographers: Dylan Perlot, Joshua Woods, Danny Kasirye