![\"To](\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20231108100118\/IMG_8304-1024x576.jpg\")
Hoyt works under the guidance of Bailey Knight, a research technician who has been involved with transforming the Flex Factory\u2019s prototype lab from a metal fabrication facility to a soft material lab. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnnie has been helping ZTE beta-test a model for other entrepreneurial students interested in using the prototype lab\u2019s equipment to follow,\u201d Knight says. \u201cI\u2019ve been able to train her on equipment and she has been able to provide assistance in the lab.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hoyt credits the facility for giving her the tools to elevate her garments and advance her business, especially when it comes to pattern-making and simplifying production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was not very good at making patterns in the past, but I’ve learned a bunch of new software programs,\u201d Hoyt says. \u201cThe printer also helps with waste elimination and the cutter cuts down about three hours of time in the process. It’s changed the whole game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well-equipped for the future<\/h3>\n\n\n\nHoyt is determined to expand her business while staying true to her passion for functional apparel and sustainability. The Wilson College, she says, has helped her see the complexity of entrepreneurship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHonestly, it’s been very eye-opening seeing how there are a lot of factors that I haven’t considered about production and about what consumers expect, especially with a rapidly changing set of expectations of how fast they want their clothing done, how they want it done,\u201d Hoyt says. \u201cRealizing what it takes to produce a garment financially and learning to manage my time has become the biggest thing. I\u2019ve definitely had a slap in the face with the reality that running a business is not just designing, it’s a lot of other things.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n
By Elyse Boldizar<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Determining start-up costs, developing the product, marketing to potential customers \u2014 starting a small business comes with big challenges. But for Annie Hoyt, those challenges have always been worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A junior studying fashion and textile management<\/a>, Hoyt is the founder of Deni<\/a>, an apparel business where she sells hand-crafted wrap skirts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Embracing her entrepreneurial spirit<\/h3>\n\n\n\nHoyt started Deni during a gap year after graduating high school in 2020, but dreamed of starting her own business long before that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI started sewing when I was around five years old,\u201d Hoyt says. \u201cI later started my own company in high school where I sewed children\u2019s dresses because they were smaller and production turnover was faster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While her children\u2019s clothing business fizzled out due to focusing on classes and other activities, Hoyt\u2019s entrepreneurial spirit remains strong. Pursuing a concentration in fashion development and product management<\/a> and a minor in business entrepreneurship, she says, has only strengthened her passion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Designing the Deni skirt<\/h3>\n\n\n\nHoyt named her company Deni after her great grandmother\u2019s surname, who moved from Italy to the United States to start a family. The inspiration for Hoyt\u2019s signature skirt comes from a skirt her mom wore often. She decided to elevate the skirt with the addition of pockets, a looser fit and an adjustable waist that makes the skirt one-size-fits-all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI love the aspect of adjustability in clothing and how your clothing can change with your body throughout the day,\u201d Hoyt says. \u201cAlso, adding things like pockets to focus on comfortability as opposed to functionality in women's clothing is something that I like to incorporate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Utilizing the Flex Factory<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThroughout the manufacturing process, Hoyt has taken advantage of the Wilson College\u2019s Flex Factory. Set to open fully in December of 2025, the Flex Factory is a research and development facility made to support business advancement and textile innovation by providing access to industry-level equipment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Throughout the manufacturing process, Hoyt has taken advantage of the Wilson College\u2019s Flex Factory. Set to open fully in December of 2025, the Flex Factory is a research and development facility made to support business advancement and textile innovation by providing access to industry-level equipment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hoyt was introduced to the Flex Factory through her internship with the Zeis Textiles Extension <\/a>(ZTE), an on-campus service for training, certification and access to prototyping equipment. She is one of the first students to utilize the Flex Factory\u2019s printing and cutting machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hoyt works under the guidance of Bailey Knight, a research technician who has been involved with transforming the Flex Factory\u2019s prototype lab from a metal fabrication facility to a soft material lab. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnnie has been helping ZTE beta-test a model for other entrepreneurial students interested in using the prototype lab\u2019s equipment to follow,\u201d Knight says. \u201cI\u2019ve been able to train her on equipment and she has been able to provide assistance in the lab.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hoyt credits the facility for giving her the tools to elevate her garments and advance her business, especially when it comes to pattern-making and simplifying production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was not very good at making patterns in the past, but I've learned a bunch of new software programs,\u201d Hoyt says. \u201cThe printer also helps with waste elimination and the cutter cuts down about three hours of time in the process. It's changed the whole game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well-equipped for the future<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hoyt is determined to expand her business while staying true to her passion for functional apparel and sustainability. The Wilson College, she says, has helped her see the complexity of entrepreneurship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHonestly, it's been very eye-opening seeing how there are a lot of factors that I haven't considered about production and about what consumers expect, especially with a rapidly changing set of expectations of how fast they want their clothing done, how they want it done,\u201d Hoyt says. \u201cRealizing what it takes to produce a garment financially and learning to manage my time has become the biggest thing. I\u2019ve definitely had a slap in the face with the reality that running a business is not just designing, it's a lot of other things.\u201d<\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Junior Annie Hoyt started selling hand-sewn skirts after high school, but has expanded her business with industry-level machinery at the Wilson College of Textiles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":51864,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"caption\":\"\",\"displayCategoryID\":502}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[742,502,496],"tags":[2411,1431,949,1382,898],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[],"class_list":["post-51863","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newswire","category-student-success","category-tatm","tag-b-s-fashion-and-textile-management","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-fashion-development-and-product-management","tag-wilson-college-of-textiles","tag-zeis-textiles-extension"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":502,"name":"Student Success","slug":"student-success","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":502,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":395,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"yoast_head":"