A Harvard Law Student Unhappy With Women’s Suits Launches Her Own Line

(SALT LAKE CITY, Utah) — Logan Brown did not start law school with the intent of launching her own business. But during her first few months at Harvard back in 2019, she struggled to find a comfortable and well-fitting suit for job interviews. This challenge propelled Brown to start her own women’s suiting company, Spencer Jane, named after two of her grandparents.

When she first began searching for professional wear, Brown did not have a go-to store. She invested a lot of time searching for a suit that met her needs.

“Like most women searching for professional clothing, I headed to department stores to try on all the pantsuits available,” Brown told The Click. “I just pulled every option off of the rack. I tried every store I could think of but couldn’t find anything that was easy to take care of, [that] fit well and was comfortable.”

Brown reached out to other women for advice on where to find clothing. When she realized that others were experiencing similar struggles, she put together a survey and sent it to friends through text and email. The message was forwarded to other women, from students to retirees, and Brown gathered over 2,000 responses.

“I was really focused on the amount of time women waste whenever they have a professional event coming up,” Brown said. “Unlike men, who grew up wearing suits to weddings and other formal events, often the first time a woman needs a pantsuit is the moment she finds out she has a job interview or other event coming up. That takes time away from preparing for whatever it is going on.”

Seeing the need for more affordable, comfortable, and durable suits, Brown decided to start her own company. Having no experience in design, she began her research by reaching out to experts in the industry.

“I became a student of clothing design and production,” Brown said. “I read every book I can think of and spoke to everyone I could find with relevant knowledge.”

During her second year in law school, Brown also enrolled in business classes to build support for her company. She sought advice from professionals who could give her in-depth knowledge in creating a business.

“People are more than willing to lend you their time, especially if somebody is a very seasoned professional and does something on a regular basis,” Brown said.

As Brown began to launch her company, the COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes to the workforce. Traditional women’s workwear shops have struggled to stay in business, and work-from-home opportunities have changed how women are approaching their work attire, according to CNN.

Despite the challenges, Brown adapted to the changing market, developing a quarantine line consisting of a blazer, matching sweatpants, and a mask. 

Matt Sutton, a teaching assistant at Harvard Business School who helped develop Brown’s company, attributes her success to her ability to seize opportunities.

“She resettled her approach based upon changing world conditions,” Sutton told The Click. “She’s not selling a jacket. She’s welcoming you into an experience that speaks of strength, creativity, courage, and wisdom.”

In light of her success, Brown has created a social media following on TikTok by sharing her personal story and promoting her product. She hopes to continue to grow her community following and engagement with her customers.

Her fans have been vocal about their support on the company’s social media. Spencer Jane posted a TikTok video promoting a partnership with Wichita State University to donate a portion of their proceeds toward a female entrepreneur fund. One commenter wrote, “Not only a great blazer but a company that gives back and empowers women.”

With a year and a half left of law school, Brown hopes to use this time to experiment and grow her company.

“I think there’s still a lot of room for innovation, and I have some ideas about potentials to do that,” Brown said. “I think that we’ll see a return to the office and the need for pants, so that’s my next step.”