Emily McCarthy is a clothing and lifestyle designer recognized for her distinctive, joyful point of view—where radiant color, refined form, and an enduring sense of style converge. Rooted in her foundation in fine arts and design, Emily’s evolution into fashion began at a young age, guided by an innate creative curiosity and an enduring appreciation for the artistry of textiles.
Emily received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design and Photography from LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia. After graduation, Emily honed her skills through various internships and freelance design projects, gaining recognition for her keen eye for detail and innovative approach to fashion. Her eponymous brand was founded with the vision of creating stylish, versatile clothing that empowers women to feel confident and expressive in every aspect of their lives. Inspired by her signature print design, apparel became the next evolution of the brand.
Emily Joy McCarthy is the CEO and Creative Director of our women’s apparel and lifestyle brand, celebrated for its vibrant use of color, elevated ease, and thoughtfully designed collections. Since launching the clothing label in 2019, the brand has grown into a nationally recognized lifestyle company with an expanding retail footprint, a thriving e-commerce business, and retail partners across the country.
As Creative Director, Emily drives the creative narrative behind twelve annual collections of women’s contemporary apparel. From designing original prints and establishing color palettes to shaping each collection’s storytelling, campaigns, and visual direction, she remains deeply involved in creating the distinctive point of view that defines the brand. Her background in graphic design continues to influence her approach - balancing color, pattern, proportion, and storytelling to create a world that feels unmistakably Emily McCarthy.
As CEO, her role extends far beyond the design studio. Emily leads the vision and strategy of the company alongside a growing team across design, merchandising, marketing, e-commerce, wholesale, retail, operations, and finance. As the business has scaled, so has her approach to leadership: building a strong team, creating opportunities for others to lead, and establishing the foundation for a company designed to endure well beyond its founder.
That belief in shared growth extends into Emily’s commitment to the broader founder community. Through mentorship with The Southern C, founder gatherings, and conversations on The Joy Club Podcast, she creates opportunities for women to openly share the lessons, challenges, and realities of entrepreneurship. Her commitment to community also inspired the Invite Joy Endowment Fund, supporting organizations that serve women, children, and families in Savannah, Georgia.
At the heart of it all, Emily is also a wife and mother. Motherhood has shaped both the woman she designs for and the company she hopes to leave behind. Her vision is to build more than a successful fashion business - it is to create an enduring legacy brand that brings confidence and joy to women across generations, ages, and walks of life, and one her own children can be proud to see carried forward.
Follow along for a behind-the-scenes look at life beyond the brand, daily inspiration, creative moments, and a little bit of everything in between.
