MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS
finance. Kerry, with a background in law, human rights, and mindfulness, brought her unique skills to the brand. Asked how she knew a clothing company was meant for her, she laughed, “A psychic told me! I was involved in my own startup called Mindful Mentors and asked her if I should stick with it. She told me the Faherty venture was ‘a strong current you won’t be able to swim against.’” The psychic also shared how Kerry would be able to infuse everything she loved and is passionate about into the brand. That insight began Kerry’s journey as Chief Impact Officer, guiding the brand’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. Alex and Mike’s mother, Ninie, has also played a vital role as Faherty Brand’s Head Store Designer, bringing a relaxed, rustic style to each store. Together, the family has built a business that reflects their love for Spring Lake and their vision for creating sustainable and high-quality casual clothing. Home & Headquarters Spring Lake, the town that shaped their childhood, now serves as home and creative headquarters for two stores. “It’s surreal raising our kids in the same town where we grew up,” Alex reflects. “It’s helped us slow down and focus on long-term growth for the business, prioritizing family and our health.” But running a business in their hometown comes with unique pressures. “Spring Lake is our oasis, and we wanted to protect that,” says Kerry, “We’re very involved in every aspect of what we do, and there’s pride in bringing something to a place you call home. It raises the stakes. You want to make sure, even more so, it is successful.” For Alex, there’s the challenge of balancing his natural drive to solve problems with allowing himself some downtime—a process that remains a work in progress.
BUILDING THE FAHERTY LEGACY & Waves, Fashion, Family
Fortunately, their friends were their biggest supporters for a Spring Lake Faherty Brand store location. “Our friends were very convincing,” Alex explains. Kerry adds, “As the Spring Lake store was springboarded, there was even more excitement. We had no clue how successful it would be and the support we would have. It’s been wonderful.” New Horizons The stakes felt higher as they developed Sun & Wave Cafe. Kerry shares, “We’d never ventured into food. It’s a totally new world. With Sun & Waves, we were creating something we weren’t sure we were good at, but we leaned on friends and the community to help guide us.” As daunting as it was, the Fahertys’ desire to create a gathering place for locals made them feel confident they could figure it out. It was a way to give back to the community that has given them so much. For Alex, it was also a chance to use skills he’d learned working at Ragin’ Cajun in Belmar as a teen. A Family Affair Trust and respect guide the family dynamic at Faherty Brand, but that doesn’t mean it is always easy. “Trusting each other’s strengths without second-guessing is crucial,” Alex says. Kerry agrees, emphasizing that self-awareness,
BY KATIE SCHRADER - EDITOR
T his story begins with the tale of two college essays—one about the ice cream man, the other about building a clothing brand. Alex and Mike Faherty’s essays unquestionably went in different directions. Alex, typically the more serious one, wrote about the thrill of chasing the ice cream truck through Spring Lake. Meanwhile, Mike was
next decade into Faherty Brand. Joined by Alex’s wife, Kerry, a passionate advocate for mindfulness and social impact, they’ve been on their journey ever since. Forging Careers After college, Mike forged his path in fashion as a designer for Ralph Lauren, while Alex entered the world of
laying the groundwork for a clothing line called Coast to Curb. His essay and envisioned brand was an homage to their hometown of Spring Lake’s surf vibes and their experiences growing up amidst New York City’s fashion scene. Since childhood, Alex was always equally hooked on the idea of starting a company with his brother. That inspiration eventually grew over the
22 December 2024
Stroll Spring Lake 23
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