Today we’d like to introduce you to Hanna Harrison.
Hi Hanna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Alex & Co. really started from a season of my life when I realized I wanted more freedom and more intention in the way I lived.
As a single mom raising two boys while working full-time, life was always busy. I was grateful for my career and everything I had built, but at the same time, I started to realize that if I continued on the same path, it would be difficult to create the kind of life I truly wanted — one with more time for my children, more financial freedom, and more space to pursue the things that inspired me.
That realization pushed me to start something of my own.
I have always loved fashion, creating, and finding simple ways to make everyday life feel a little more special. I wanted to build a brand that reflected that — something beautiful and timeless, but also practical for real life. That idea became Alex & Co.
I started small, with canvas tote bags designed for everyday life — work, errands, travel, kids’ activities, baseball games, and all the places life takes us. From there, I began expanding into embroidery and apparel, allowing me to bring more creativity and personalization into the brand.
Alex & Co. is still very much at the beginning of its story, and I’m building it while continuing to work full-time and raise my boys. But that is also what makes it meaningful to me. I didn’t wait until life was perfectly organized or until I had unlimited time. I simply started with what I had and began building toward the life I wanted.
For me, Alex & Co. is about more than selling products. It represents creating something of my own, showing my children what it looks like to pursue an idea, and reminding myself that it’s never too late to create a life that feels more like your own.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but I think that’s part of what has made the journey so meaningful.
One of my biggest challenges has simply been finding the time. As a single mom raising two boys while working full-time, my days are already very full. Building Alex & Co. means using the small pockets of time I have — early mornings, evenings, weekends, or whenever I can fit it in.
Another challenge has been learning everything from the ground up. Starting a business involves so much more than creating a product. I’ve had to learn about sourcing, pricing, branding, photography, social media, shipping, embroidery, and all the little details that happen behind the scenes. There has been a lot of trial and error, and I’m still learning every day.
I’ve also had moments of doubt. When you’re starting something on your own, it’s easy to wonder whether people will connect with your idea or whether all the time and effort will eventually pay off.
But I’ve learned that I don’t have to have everything figured out before I move forward. I just have to keep taking the next step.
In many ways, building Alex & Co. while balancing motherhood and a full-time career has made the journey more challenging, but it has also made it much more meaningful. I want my boys to see that you can work hard, start over, dream bigger, and continue creating new possibilities for your life at any stage.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Alex & Co. is a lifestyle brand inspired by real, everyday life. I create pieces that are practical enough for busy days but still feel classic, elevated, and personal.
I started with canvas tote bags because I wanted something I could genuinely use in my own life. As a busy mom, I’m constantly moving between work, errands, my kids’ activities, baseball games, travel, and everything in between. I wanted a bag that could carry everything I needed without sacrificing style. That idea really became the foundation of Alex & Co.
The brand is now growing beyond totes into custom embroidery and apparel, including sweatshirts and T-shirts. I especially love the personalization side of the business because it allows me to take something simple and make it meaningful to the person wearing or carrying it.
What I want Alex & Co. to be known for is thoughtfully made pieces for everyday life — timeless, useful, and personal. I’m not interested in creating things simply because they are trending. I want to create pieces people will actually reach for again and again.
What sets Alex & Co. apart is that the brand comes from the life I’m actually living. I understand the woman who is going from work to school pickup, then to a baseball field, running errands in between, or packing for a weekend away — because that’s my life too. I think that perspective helps me think about both how something looks and how it functions in real life.
What I’m most proud of right now is simply that I started. Alex & Co. is still a young brand, and there is so much I want to build, but seeing an idea that once existed only in my head become something real has been incredibly rewarding. More than anything, I’m proud that I’m creating something that reflects who I am, the life I’m building, and hopefully inspires other women to believe they can create something of their own too.
How do you think about luck?
I think luck has played an interesting role in my life because some of the things that felt like bad luck at the time eventually became the reason I changed direction.
There have been seasons of my life that didn’t go the way I expected. Becoming a single mom, rebuilding my life, balancing motherhood with a full-time career, and starting something completely new certainly weren’t part of a perfect plan. But looking back, many of those challenges pushed me to become more independent, resourceful, and intentional about the life I wanted to create.
At the same time, I feel incredibly fortunate for the opportunities, people, and experiences that have come into my life at the right moments. Sometimes one conversation, one connection, or even one small opportunity can give you the confidence to take the next step.
With Alex & Co., I believe luck can open a door, but you still have to be willing to walk through it. I don’t think I can control when the right opportunity will appear, but I can control whether I’m prepared for it, whether I work hard, and whether I keep going when things don’t happen as quickly as I hoped.
So I’ve learned to appreciate both good luck and bad luck. The good moments give you opportunities, and sometimes the difficult ones give you direction. In my life, both have helped bring me to where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AlexandCobyDesign
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexandco.officials?igsh=ZTNiN3AycDR0end3&utm_source=qr
