The Story Behind Eddy After everyone raved about the custom wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses Megan Eddings Feely created for her wedding, she knew she had to start Eddy. Read how it all started from Megan, herself.
Megan here. I’m the founder and CEO of Eddy. I’m so glad you’re here.
For as long as I can remember, I dreamt of starting my own business. What I didn’t know was what it would look like. Then, in this unexpected, serendipitous way as I was marrying the love of my life, it all became clear. Here’s how it went down:
In 2019, I was riding high on my recent engagement when I landed in India for the first time on a work trip. Thinking about my best gals, I collected a bunch of incredible fabrics to bring home so that I could design custom looks for them to wear at my wedding. I wanted everyone to look and feel stunning, without having to shell out an arm and a leg. I designed all of my looks for the weekend while I was at it. Then? Some of you may recall the global pandemic that set in that spring. As it did for everyone in different ways, Covid forced me to rethink some of my plans, so I pivoted. What was supposed to be a fairly large wedding turned into an intimate ceremony on the beach where I wore my original rehearsal look as my wedding dress. When it was safer, we gathered a larger group for a celebration closer to what we had originally planned. This time, I wore my wedding dress and had all my best babes beside me. In the end, everything turned out perfectly.
Something else pretty unexpected happened, too. Friends and family couldn’t get enough of the bold and feminine dresses I had created for myself and my bridesmaids, and their enthusiasm cracked something open inside me. Here was the business I had been dreaming about my whole life. A bit of a fashion world veteran at that point (if I do say so myself), I knew I had what it takes to launch my own brand. So (slightly terrified) I seized the momentum, took a leap, and Eddy was born. This magnificent world of whimsy that makes me pinch myself daily has been blooming ever since.
Eddy is the nickname I grew up with. It reminds me of this young, bold, tom-boy girly girl that held a fire inside her. Since this brand really feels like an extension of me and because I aspire to invoke that fire with everything we do, Eddy felt like the perfect fit.
With the wedding weekend glow still in full effect and that fire burning, I tied up loose ends over the course of a few months, and booked a ticket back to India.
This time, I was on my own, and I spent one intense month in and around New Delhi creating Eddy’s first collection. I picked out fabrics and prints, designed the pieces, and fit each sample. While there, I traveled to the Northeastern state of Assam to meet with an NGO who I wanted to work with. Before I even sold my first piece, I knew that working with a sustainable supply chain and giving back was a non-negotiable. So I traveled into the depths of Assam (by plane, car, and small boat - a pretty wild story for a later time) totally solo, to Guwahati to meet with an NGO called Maati Centre, which helps to empower women in isolated communities. It was truly an honor to learn about and observe this community. Today Eddy pledges one percent of its net revenue to support causes where we manufacture.
During that month in India, I also honed in on the edge that makes Eddy’s looks what they are: whimsical, fun, and occasion-worthy but wearable. I start with fabrics like organic cotton and embellish with details that turn each piece into a statement. Think embroidery, hand beadwork, crochet lace trim, and lots of fringe. (I love fringe. It reminds me of the time I spent living in Arizona when I was growing up - fringe and turquoise was everywhere. I strive to pull in my personal world and different aspects of life that inspire me into each piece.)
I flew directly from India to New York to show the collection and to my delight, people got it. Speciality boutiques and major retailers embraced my vision with open arms, and I had another pinch-myself moment. Two weeks later, I was on another flight, this time to Sedona, Arizona, for my best friend’s bachelorette. The sample dresses came with me and my friends tried them on. Getting to see such incredible people of different ages with different body types wearing these pieces and feeling good was something special. One of my close friends, who just happens to be a professional photographer (and also shot my wedding), came along to photograph this magic moment. Looking back, I love how those early images capture the fun-loving and open spirit that’s really the essence of Eddy.
Two months later, we were live. Our dresses, party blazers, skirts and tops have been moving from our hands to yours ever since, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Launching Eddy has been a whirlwind of the best kind—and the adventure hasn’t slowed down. I became a mom twice during the last few years (yep, you did that math right: Irish twins) and while I guess you could say I have my hands full, my heart is full, too. I love being a mom and I love creating clothes that make you feel good inside and out. I also love getting the chance to meet new women who inspire me every day. So don’t be a stranger. Nothing makes me happier than seeing you in your magic moments rocking my designs. Welcome to Eddy. I’m so glad you’re here.