Ten years ago, we packed a suitcase, flew to India, and somehow turned a love of textiles into a real business. Through highs, lows, ups & downs, MIRTH has grown into more than we could’ve ever imagined.
Scroll on for a (slightly embarrassing) trip through the last decade.
As we wrap up Mirthday month, we want to say thank you to the incredible makers, friends, and customers who’ve been part of the journey. We appreciate each one of you, and can’t wait to write the next ten year story.
xx Katie
2013
I had the idea for MIRTH years before launching... While doing some soul searching in Bali, I stumbled upon a hidden handmade batik workshop while shopping for a caftan. The idea stuck—combining artful textiles, heritage craft, small makers, caftans, and travel into a business.
Photo taken that day!
2014
The next year, during a volunteer trip in Nepal, I found the courage to take the first step. I met a kind local tailor and had a caftan sample made, sketching and describing exactly what I had in mind.
The tailors
It wasn’t good—but it was the first step (the hardest one) that built enough momentum to lead to another step.
The only pic of the caftan, ha!
Erin and I met up in India and I pitched the idea. It came to life as we explored markets and learned about the depth of India’s textile traditions.
This is literally when we decided we’d partner up and give it a go: on the back of an (ethical) elephant ride.
The name MIRTH, meaning joy and amusement, comes from the feeling we had in this very moment.
2015
Before we launched, we spent two years on research, learning, sampling (in Erin’s living room), and setting up our supply chain.
We pounded the pavement to start selling wholesale. Before our first buyer appointment (Saint Cloud in Houston—thank you, Cecilia!), we were shaking from nerves & had only very unprofesh line sheets made in Word. Soon after, Bobby Sankary, our Head of Wholesale to this day, found us on IG and grew our wholesale tremendously.
2016
We officially launched!
The collection was tiny, and we learned some tough lessons about quality control, fabric fading, trim construction, wash care...the list goes on.
In the first month, Anthropologie picked up an ikat dress, we had a fun launch event at Brooke Feather, and we did all we could to learn and get the brand off the ground.
Brooke Feather
Could not believe when influencers started posting wearing MIRTH— A Piece of Toast and House of Harper were the first!
@houseofharper
@apieceoftoast
2017
We used Erin’s living room, then my apartment as our warehouse/office/studio.
Looking back, it. was. terrible. but we didn't realize at the time because we loved what it meant.
2019
Moved to our first small office! *emphasis on small* but still a HUGE step for us.
Soon after, we upgraded to a fulfillment warehouse with our friends at Freya and hired our first employee, Gaby, who’s still with us today.
We expanded to tops then pants, shorts, and jackets—before we knew it, a full line of womenswear.
We tried a lot of things and not all of them worked out… not sure what this neck adornment even is?
2020
Launched our first big seller: The Vienna Dress. We’ve now made 28 iterations of this silhouette.
The OG Mirth model, Alyssa Malenfant, shot by the OG photog, Jenny Antill
2022
Expanded beyond India to Peru and launched our first knitwear collection.
2023
Moved into our current HQ with our roomies, Freya! Offices, warehouse and our first showroom in one cute building in Houston’s museum district.
We worked our tails off, chased lizards out of the warehouse, lugged suitcases around the world, and scrappily built a team we owe everything to.
@thefreyabrand
2025
Celebrating a decade of mirth in Round Top, TX with friends, family and two giant piñatas.
Truly, thank you for being here and for following along on the wild journey. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for the next decade of MIRTH.
Want to see more of the unhinged things we did when we started MIRTH? Follow us on IG! There’s plenty of blackmail-worthy content to go around.
