Life in Color
Fashion designer Haley Emerson on unapologetic self-expression
By Kaylor Jones / Photos by Claudia Johnstone / Location: Mountain Shadows Scottsdale
You can spot a Haley J. design from a mile away – a bold silhouette, even bolder color and luxury materials, not to mention the air of confidence that the garments both require and accentuate.
The label, which launched in August 2025 by Scottsdale-based designer Haley Emerson, encompasses vibrant, heirloom-quality garments for women and children. But the success of this breakout brand wouldn’t have been possible if not for a little girl obsessed with all-things fashion.
“When I was a kid, I was constantly sketching, sewing and creating my own fashion magazines,” says Emerson, who grew up outside of Detroit and went on to earn her BFA in fashion design from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
After graduation, she made her mark on the industry by working in luxury fashion houses in London and New York, often creating time-intensive couture garments for celebrity and royal clients. Every day, she woke up pinching herself that she had been able to turn her love of fashion into such a fulfilling career.
“The greatest lesson learned was how to hold my own in a room full of successful people. To succeed in the fashion industry, you must lead with conviction and not take the cutthroat nature of the business personally. This lesson was the best preparation for founding my own brand. It taught me how to stay focused on my vision, even when the logistics of entrepreneurship felt impossible. Persistence and resilience are the only reasons that my brand is here today.”
The turning point came when Emerson decided she was done using her own creative ideas to further someone else’s legacy. She spent three years building her own brand, Haley J. (www.shophaleyj.com) behind the scenes before its launch, a period chock full of learning moments and technical challenges.
“I viewed every setback as a necessary step in perfecting my brand. When Haley J. launched, the craftsmanship was flawless, the silhouettes were exactly what I envisioned, and the brand identity was where it needed to be.”
Being Bold
At Haley J., Emerson says, a piece of clothing is so much more than just fabric. It’s an opportunity to empower women to embrace self-expression without apology.
A lifelong inspiration who embodies this mindset is the late Iris Apfel. The fashion icon was known for her colorful, maximalist style that combined vintage and couture pieces, as well as her affinity for accessories – including her signature oversized glasses. For Emerson, Apfel’s unique approach to fashion is the epitome of joy and originality – as reflected in her famous quote, “If you don’t dress like other people, you don’t have to think like other people.”
“Seeing her live so boldly gave me the confidence to embrace my own unique aesthetic. Today, I use my brand to pass down that same confidence, encouraging women to use fashion to boldly express their own individuality.”
And if there was one word to encapsulate Emerson’s own individuality, it would be color. Patternmaking and technical design are exceedingly important to her – as drilled in by her earlier career in luxury fashion houses, where she learned the ins and outs of superior construction – but it all falls flat without color. The pieces from her debut collection, for example, are immediately identifiable by their lush pinks and vibrant oranges.
“While many designers start with a silhouette, I start with color and build a story around it. My own personal style has always been defined by this bold approach, and my brand is this idea brought to life. I believe that when we dress in color, we tell the world exactly who we are.”
Doing It All
Looking forward, Emerson’s vision for Haley J. is a one-stop lifestyle destination where women can curate an entire wardrobe, from statement pieces to shoes and accessories. Currently, she’s focused on expanding the offerings to include elevated basics and additional categories like sunglasses.
When she’s not hard at work planning the future of Haley J., Emerson can be found spending time with her family, traveling or recharging outside, a contrast she says can be surprising to some people.
“While I’m often in head-to-toe glam and run a luxury fashion business, I love spending time outdoors. I’m an experienced backpacker, and my highest summit to date is Mount Kilimanjaro. I love when people learn this about me. It shows that women don’t have to be just one thing. You can love luxury but still want to climb the mountain.”
This is just the kind of message she hopes to instill in her daughters – that they can be anything and do anything, that they should always lead with confidence and boldly express their joy.
“While design is my passion and my career, my true job is to be a great mom and to show my girls what a woman with a vision can achieve. My brand is my living legacy for them, and that is the greatest inspiration there is.”
When reflecting on this journey, building her brand during the first few years of her daughter’s life proves one of the most rewarding accomplishments of all.
“I learned that motherhood and my professional aspirations didn’t have to be in competition, they fueled one another. Knowing that I am modeling unapologetic self-expression and building a legacy that my daughter will be proud of makes every moment of entrepreneurship worth it.”