Highlighting Young Entrepreneurs

Art By Sam Ball

My business started when I was in high school (Darien High School!) and I made myself and all of my best friends shoes for where we were going to college. From there, people in the area started placing orders for them, it was so awesome seeing so many people wear my hand-drawn shoes to their graduations! 

From there, I realized I could draw/paint on basically anything. I started trying to paint on anything anyone asked for, and started recording my process on Instagram and Tik Tok! I also realized that I can paint very quickly, therefore I can customize items live at events, which makes events so much more personal and guests leave with a unique and personalized experience!

Now I get to paint for super fun brands like LoveShackFancy, Roller Rabbit, Stoney Clover Lane, Walmart, as well as live painting at store openings, private events, murals all over NYC & more!

The most rewarding part of my job is getting to see people’s reactions and wear/use/take photos of my work. I love being able to make something customized and one of a kind for the person who ordered it. Capturing things/words/images that are so important to a person, make the items that much more special and unique. People’s reactions always make all of the hard work and long hours (& back pain! Lol) SO worth it!!!

Second Hand Collection

1.Tell us about your business. Where did your interest come from and share your path to launching.
Ever since tenth grade, when I learned in my environmental science class about the harmful impact of fast fashion and overconsumption on both the planet and people, I’ve made it a priority to shop second hand whenever possible. This summer, as I prepared to head off to college, I realized I needed to buy quite a few new clothes—but I also wanted to sell the ones I no longer wore to make space in my closet and earn a little money.

At first, I tried selling my clothes on Depop, but the process was slow, the platform took a cut of my earnings, and I simply had too many items to list. Many of my friends had the same problem: they wanted to sell their clothes but didn’t want the hassle of online reselling apps. I’d also been encouraging my friends to shop secondhand for years, but they often told me they didn’t trust buying online because they couldn’t see the quality in person, and that thrifting took too much time and rarely turned up pieces they liked. When the opportunity came to clear out the back of the New Canaan Sports Apparel pop-up at the New Canaan Ski and Sport store, I transformed the space into a small second hand clothing shop. I started by selling my own clothes, then began accepting items from other girls on consignment. Since all of us had relatively similar styles, the store felt more like a curated boutique for local teenage girls rather than a typical thrift store with a mix of unrelated styles.

2. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part is knowing that every purchase helps the planet by preventing waste and reducing demand for fast fashion. I also love introducing people who don’t usually shop secondhand to sustainable fashion in a way that feels easy, fun, and accessible.

Henna by Alina

1. About My Business:
My name is Alina Shahzad, and I’m the founder of Henna by Alina. What started as a personal form of healing soon became a meaningful business rooted in culture, connection, and care. My passion for henna stems from my Pakistani-Muslim heritage and my own journey navigating mental and emotional adversity. The steady, intentional art of applying henna brought me calm—and over time, it became a tool to uplift others too. I officially launched my business to celebrate South Asian beauty traditions while offering something deeply personal and restorative to each client. Today, I provide a range of services including custom henna designs for Eid, weddings, birthdays, wellness events, and cultural celebrations. Whether it’s delicate mandalas or meaningful symbolism, each design is tailored to reflect the client’s story. Beyond services, Henna by Alina is also a platform for education and expression. Through my blog, I explore henna’s cultural and medicinal history, share my research on its healing properties, and reflect on themes like identity, resilience, and representation. On Instagram and TikTok(@hennabyalinaaa), I create content that blends art, tradition, and storytelling—offering not just visuals, but context: what henna means to me, to my community, and to young women growing up in a world that often overlooks us.

2. Most Rewarding Part:
The most rewarding part of my work is seeing women and girls smile, not just at the beauty of the design, but at the pride they feel in their identity. Henna is more than traditional art—it’s a celebration of culture, womanhood, and resilience. I’ve had clients tell me they felt truly seen for the first time. That’s the magic. I want every client, especially young South Asian girls, to feel proud of who they are and where they come from. Whether I’m decorating hands for Eid, a wedding, or a wellness event, I know I’m helping people feel more connected to themselves and their stories. I’ve also used my platform to give back—donating proceeds to local mental health, food, and domestic violence support causes—because henna is, at its heart, about healing. It has become my love language: a way to comfort, empower, and pass on the joy and beauty of our culture one design at a time.