撸先生

As a kid, Abby MacQueen spent her summers at the Jersey shore. Passionate about protecting the environment and being creative, she participated in beach clean-ups and could always be found crafting or upcycling clothing.

 I wanted to create something that was sustainable and eco-friendly and that everybody could feel comfortable in.

Abby MacQueen

She established her brand, while she was a sophomore at 撸先生 in 2018.

Born from her love of the ocean, surfing and her passion for environmental consciousness, Guppi is a surf company that produces apparel and accessories with sustainable materials such as bamboo, organic cotton and hemp. All screen printed and embroidered items are handmade by MacQueen.

鈥淎s convenient as fast fashion is, I wanted to create something that was sustainable and eco-friendly and that everybody could feel comfortable in,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 educated myself on sustainability issues, and I continue to do so to keep growing.鈥�

 

Mentorship fuels entrepreneurship

Finding the confidence to pursue her own business venture took time, and the mentorship she received at 撸先生 was invaluable, she says.

She brought her idea of sustainably creating clothing to 撸先生 professor Jan Baum, director of the entrepreneurship minor in the College of Business and Economics, who encouraged her to add a minor in entrepreneurship to her major in mass communication and media studies.

MacQueen鈥檚 entrepreneurship class had the biggest impact on her business plan. She had to produce a prototype of an item for her mock business, so she set up a crowdfund for screen printing equipment to get started.

MacQueen鈥檚 entrepreneurship class had the biggest impact on her business plan.

While juggling her responsibilities as 撸先生鈥檚 mascot, Doc, and participating in business competitions, MacQueen ran Guppi on the weekends at festivals and markets.

The COVID-19 pandemic hit soon after she entered the workforce in 2019.

Like many creatives at the time, MacQueen was caught between choosing a corporate path to pay her bills and pursuing Guppi full time.

But she stayed the course and followed her dream.

 

In 2022, MacQueen established Guppi鈥檚 first brick-and-mortar store in Wildwood. Now, for three seasons and counting, Guppi offers unique products that encourage sustainable and slow fashion consumption.

鈥淚f you have an idea, just do it,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 was losing sleep over my business for at least a year because I was focused on finding a stable corporate job. Instead, I realized I鈥檇 rather take the risk while I鈥檓 young and still have the opportunity to.鈥�

Ultimately, she knows she caught the right wave.

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Photos courtesy of Abby MacQueen