About Molly

1. Where It All Started

I never knew exactly what I wanted to be. I just knew I wanted to be the boss. From a young age, I was surrounded by entrepreneurship. My family’s business sat right in my backyard, and I grew up watching my grandfather lead with confidence, grit, and respect. Seeing what it took to build something lasting taught me early on that success isn’t handed to you. It’s earned.

I got my first job at 13 at a local grocery store. It wasn’t glamorous, but it gave me my first taste of independence, responsibility, and pride in my own work. From there, I never stopped. Through high school, I worked wherever I could, from a toy store to nannying to assisting as a dance teacher at my studio. Every job sharpened my work ethic and fueled my desire to build something of my own, on my own terms.

2. east carolina university

Eventually, I found my place at East Carolina University. My freshman year roommate and I became fast friends and did everything together. We shared a love for creativity and connection, and we both wanted a way to make money without being tied to a traditional scheduled job. That spark turned into our first venture: a custom pillow business focused on Greek lettering.

We did everything by hand. We colored fabric with markers, sewed each piece together, stuffed them with polyfill, and sold exclusively through Instagram. Every pillow was hand delivered, every order personal. I loved connecting directly with customers and creating pieces that were made exactly for them.

When we moved out of our college dorm, the business naturally came to an end. I was disappointed at the time, but looking back, it was only the beginning. I just didn’t know it yet.

3. From Baskets to a Business

In the summer of 2017, a family friend gifted me a heat press and a vinyl cutter. I brought both machines back to college with me, ready to create, even if I wasn’t entirely sure what that would look like yet. When my sorority’s Big Little season rolled around I was thrilled to finally welcome my own Little. I wanted to give her the kind of baskets that meant something, the same way mine had for me.

I got to work making t shirts, sweatshirts, and stickers. As I carried my baskets into the house each day, more and more sisters started asking if I could make something for them too. That was the moment it all clicked. The work I had always dreamed of was coming to life right in front of me. I decided to take that spark and run with it.

4. Making It Official

In October of 2017, Made by Mollz officially became a Greek licensed vendor, and my Etsy shop went live. I was anxious, nervous, and excited all at once. I poured my life savings into betting on myself, without any guarantees it would work, only knowing I had to try. I learned as I went and could never have imagined the road ahead, but I knew deep down this was the path I was meant to take.

Running the business out of my college apartment was chaotic and unforgettable. It was equal parts circus and dream. My roommates were absolute troopers, helping peel vinyl, model shirts, and support me every step of the way.

5. A Full Circle Moment

The year following my launch, ECU’s University Book Exchange began carrying my merchandise. Walking into my school’s bookstore for the first time and seeing shirts I had designed and made by hand hanging on the racks was a full circle moment I will never forget. What once lived in my college apartment had turned into something real, something others believed in enough to carry and share.

The support from the ECU Pirate community has meant more to me than I can put into words. From classmates and friends to complete strangers who believed in my brand, those early connections helped shape Made by Mollz into what it is today. I am endlessly grateful for the encouragement, trust, and relationships that grew from that moment.

6. Made by mollz today

Today, Made by Mollz looks very different than it did in my college apartment, but the heart of it remains the same. What began as a creative outlet has grown into a full-time business rooted in personalization, connection, and celebrating the moments that matter most. Every design still starts with intention, and every order represents a real person, a real story, and a meaningful milestone.

I remain deeply hands-on in the day-to-day, from designing and sourcing to fulfilling orders and connecting with customers. Made by Mollz has become more than just apparel. It’s a community built on sisterhood, creativity, and confidence. I’m endlessly grateful for the support that has carried this brand from its earliest days to where it is now, and I’m excited to continue growing, evolving, and building something that feels just as personal as it did from the very beginning.