Meet Sue Crozier, the amazing mom behind Happy Hippie Hipster. She is a woman on a mission and has developed a brand with a laudable cause. Read on to find out how her life was suddenly changed, but that led her to develop a company that is making a difference for parents AND fighting against human trafficking.
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in town?
Originally from a little town in Mexico, transplanted to Austin when my mom fell in love with an American working in Mexico. They married and we moved to Austin when I was 4 years old. Lived in Austin most of my life, but when my husband and I got engaged I moved to Houston. He was still doing his undergrad in Houston, so I made the move to Houston and have lived here ever since.
How many children to you have and what are their ages?
I mom to 2 rambunctious and fun boys! A 15 year old and a 15 month old son.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I am a very shy person. I have to push myself to talk to our customers and about our cause.
What is your favorite thing about living in Austin?
My favorite thing about living in Austin was most definitely the hills and outdoor activities. Also, the short commute everywhere! You can get downtown in less than 20min that’s not feasible on the best day in Houston.
What do you love to do with your family around town?
We love heading to food trucks or just spending the day at the park.
Tell us about Happy Hippie Hipster and how it came to be, what you love about it, what makes it unique, what your goal is, etc…
Finding not one, but two careers I enjoy is something I would never have imagined when receiving my diagnosis years ago. Five years ago, I began having mobility issues, I was in my late 20’s, so this was concerning. After visiting several specialists, I was diagnosed with a chronic illness. Within that time frame, I went from working full time to trying to figuring out what I would do for income. Working a 9-5 was not possible as it took an extreme toll on my body, along with the almost weekly doctor appointments needed to try and stabilize my condition.
As my health began to improve in the last two years while four months pregnant and on bed rest with my son I was eager to keep my hand busy. My mom and I spoke about starting our own baby small shop and when she was laid off after 20 years with her company we finally took the plunge. It was great timing as my son was born and he was HUGE! I struggled to find unique, adorable clothes that didn’t cut into his generously sized baby belly. So, we began making organic cotton, non-elastic joggers and shorts. Now, almost one year into our journey, we have started to expand into blankets, dresses and custom orders.
What sets you apart from others?
At Happy Hippie Hipster, we pride ourselves in making adjustable organic clothes with fold-over cuffs. This allows your little to get the most wear which is typically about six months. We want your hard earned money to be well spent. We pride ourselves in designing from start to finish. From selecting each and every fabric print, coming up with an original design, cutting, sewing and shipping, we do it all! We do not outsource, and we never will.
We donate a percentage of each sale to help end human trafficking. Our huge and scary dream is to one day to provide a work program for victims of human trafficking.
We want to make a positive impact in our local community and believe that if every business big and small takes a stance in their local community it would be beneficial for all.
Are you involved in anything else within the community?
We volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.
That’s wonderful! How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
The other most impacting thing in our business is talking to other small business owners. If you are starting a small business, find a community of positive people and reach out to them, bounce ideas off each other, get a cup of coffee if you live in the same area or set up a call if you don’t. Starting a small business, especially if you have children can be very overwhelming at times, so having a supportive community is key.