Fashionista: What struggles do you experience working together as husband and wife? How are you two similar and different? 

Carrie: We have such different management styles and different communication styles, but it’s sort of beautiful because at every juncture we balance each other out. They say that the key is to separate work from home but we have not found a way to do that. It’s impossible because this is such an integral part of our lives right now. Even if we’re not talking about business, we’re talking about future plans for the company. But I feel like we’ve got a rhythm to it all.
Matt: I think one of the reasons it’s worked for us is that we don’t have an ego for the things that have happened in our business nor does either person want to try to take the credit for one or the other thing. When you take that element out, it’s smooth sailing.

Describe your proudest moments as business owners. Have you had a “we’ve made it” moment? 

M: When we started this business, everything was so doomsday in terms of the economy. We make a product that is made in the U.S.A. with U.S. fabric, and along with those elements comes a high price tag. The fact that people even paid attention and started wearing our jeans was huge. Still now, when we see someone at a restaurant with our jeans on we’re high-fiving. Probably the biggest thing for us has been when we’ve been outside of Nashville and seen someone wearing our jeans.
C: When we started, it was just the four of us [Matt, Carrie and husband-wife team Nestor and Gloria Maranan, a master patternmaker and sewer, respectively who the Eddmenson’s worked with at Sights Denim]. Now there are 18. In the last few months, it’s started feeling like a well-oiled machine. Our team is as proud as we are of what we’re doing. And we’re all super proud of our fall women’s collection because it’s a first.

What have been your biggest challenges with the business? What were some of the early obstacles? 

C: Honestly, other than exhaustion, the early days were the easiest. We were very fortunate. It was cash in/cash out and we profited in the third month. It worked like clockwork.
M: Our challenges now are because we’ve been fortunate to grow.
C: A specific challenge in that regard is manufacturing. We’re passionate and dedicated about manufacturing in the U.S., but it’s not as easy as it used to be. That’s been our biggest challenge I would say—but we’re working through it. There are creative solutions. And manufacturing in the U.S. is making its way back.

Where do you find inspiration? 
Do you follow fashion?