Hazel Johnston has taken on the title of an entrepreneur since January 2020, when she created her business, Haz Renewed, with the goal of bringing the BYU–Hawaii campus together, she said, through her love of modest clothing.
“For me, it became an opportunity to meet so many cool people who loved fashion as much as I did. The mission of my business is to help connect girls through modest fashion,” she said.
Johnston, a sophomore from California studying political science, described her business as an online thrift shop with an emphasis on community. “I would help girls at BYUH sell their clothes to other students. I would stay in the Aloha Center every day from 12-1 p.m. and girls would come to bring me their clothes. I would then sell it on my Instagram page and take a percentage of the profit,” Johnston explained.
Johnston said when someone would buy an item she would meet up with them so they could try it on and make sure they loved it before buying. She said it was then she thinks she connected the most to girls at BYUH and formed an ohana.
“I was able to connect with so many different girls. I would meet them in person to either sell them the clothes or help them get others to buy their clothes.”
Johnston said she did not expect to form such a community within her business. After all, she explained, it started from a simple love of fashion. “I loved seeing girls around campus dressing cute and finding new ways to incorporate their style with the standards of the Church. I thought it would be cool to help other girls find their style by showcasing options on an Instagram page.”
Haley Irwin, a sophomore from Utah studying anthropology, said she has been with Hazel from the moment the dream of her business was thought up, to the execution of the business plan.
“She dreamt up this idea and immediately made it happen. As her best friend, seeing her work so hard and spend so much time evolving her vision is so awe-inspiring and beautiful. I love seeing the evolution of herself in this process and the growth of her business alongside it. It's no question she will go so far in life.”
Keeping Haz Renewed family-based was emphasized from the start when Johnston's cousin, Bella Kester, would model the clothes for her, Johnston explained. Kester, a signed model from Oahu, described the process of modeling as strenuous but said modeling for Haz Renewed is a breath of fresh air.
“Modeling took a lot away from me,” Kester said. “Mostly weight and time. But it also gave me so much. I learned what it’s like to live in a world where you’re the person everyone looks at. But I realized I don’t need someone else to tell me I’m beautiful and take pictures of me for me to be beautiful. Just me is the most beautiful thing about me, and modeling for Haz Renewed has emphasized the simplicity of being yourself.”
With COVID-19 and students away from campus, Johnston said keeping the business going has been difficult, but said she has been able to think outside the box. “I started getting pieces from thrift stores and from anyone who would meet with me socially distanced. In order to keep the meetings safe, I would just buy the clothes outright and then resell them at a higher margin.”
The current Haz Renewed community is a tight-knit community, but Johnston said she hopes the future of her company will connect to people from all walks of life. “I want my company to be a household name, a place that comes to mind when you are getting ready to go to the mall. I want to connect girls to fashion all over the world.
“I want to help girls dress modestly, but still love their outfits. I want to help girls feel confident and comfortable in modest clothes without having to pay $5,000. I hope to also help girls style modest clothes, to show them different pieces and different ways to make the outfits work.”