Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emily & Megan Wall & Hardin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Emily & Megan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.

Since we met, we both have dreamed of starting a business with the purpose of supporting individuals with disabilities in some capacity… although to be honest, we didn’t know what that business would be. It was more or less one of those things that we dreamed about, but didn’t actually think we would ever bring to fruition.
With that said, two short years later, I (Emily) was about to make the move from Raleigh to Charlotte to begin my Ph.D. Megan and I sat down at a coffee shop in Durham, NC and I pulled out my notebook and wrote the words “Divide and Thrive”. We wanted to do something to ensure that our friendship wouldn’t dissipate with the physical distance that we soon would be experience for the very first time.

And just like that, in a few short minutes in that coffee shop, the concept of Disco Differences was born. It was almost like a light switch went off simultaneously for us. So quickly, we created our name, logo, goals, and began reaching out to families of young adults with disabilities in the area to see if anybody would be interested in gaining employment skill development through a vintage pop-up store. Our website launched on September 11, 2022, and we’ve been learning as we go, narrowing our goals as a company, and identifying new ways that we may be able to make a difference in the disability community while simultaneously leveraging our love for secondhand vintage clothing and expressive fashion.

We’ve been in business for two years, and to be honest, we could’ve just talked about the concept of this business for those two years, planning and waiting for the “perfect” time to start. We could’ve talked about it so much that we talked ourselves out of it, but we didn’t. We created the idea and we just started, building the plane as we’re flying it most days. That’s probably the biggest takeaway that we could give to anybody, is that if you have an idea, and it’s rooted in heart – just trust yourself enough to do it.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

We are Disco Differences, an inclusive vintage and secondhand shop launched in 2022 with a mission to foster belonging and empowerment for individuals of all abilities. As two passionate founders, we came together to combine our expertise and vision. Together, we built a space that promotes advocacy, education, employment skill development, and meaningful community engagement.

Our experience and passion working with individuals with disabilities shapes everything we do. At Disco Differences, we believe in creating opportunities where everyone can thrive, no matter their background or diagnosis. We aim to break down barriers and encourage self-advocacy through our pop-up events and online store, which serve as platforms for connection and growth.

Currently, our online shop brings people together while our pop-up events across major North Carolina cities offer hands-on opportunities for self-expression and learning. We invite anyone who wants to get involved to explore our “Join Our Team” page, where you can learn more about the ways we provide work-based learning and advocacy experiences.

As we continue to grow, so does our commitment to creating a more inclusive and accepting community. We’re thrilled to have you with us on this journey, and we can’t wait to see where this adventure takes us!

Any advice for managing a team?

Connect humans with shared values and goals. It’s as simple as that. We all share the same common goals at Disco Differences, and I think that’s been the biggest contributor in the closeness that we’ve created among ourselves and across the community.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Simply stated, we at Disco Differences want to foster a community where the voices of individuals with disabilities are truly heard. We aim to cultivate an environment centered on funky, secondhand clothing that celebrates self-expression, creativity, and inclusivity. Through our work, we strive to provide meaningful opportunities for employment skill development, ensuring continued access to personal and professional growth for everyone involved.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.discodifferences.com
• Instagram: discodifferences