Troy Anthony Fashion: From Hartford Entrepreneur to International Fashion Brand
When Troy Anthony Forster opened his Hartford-based fashion business in 2018, he set out to build more than a clothing brand, he wanted to create economic opportunity through fashion, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship. Specializing in custom apparel, tailoring, bridal wear, and wearable couture, Anthony steadily grew his customer base while establishing a reputation for quality craftsmanship and innovative design. However, like many small businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted operations and threatened growth opportunities. Faced with changing customer demands and economic uncertainty, Anthony needed to adapt his business model, diversify revenue streams, and position his company for long-term sustainability.
Anthony turned to SBA resource partners and financing programs to help guide his business through growth and expansion. Beginning in 2020, he worked closely with the Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC) to strengthen his strategic planning, marketing, international expansion, and government contracting efforts. During the pandemic, an SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan helped him retain employees and pivot production to create personal protective equipment and masks for healthcare workers, nursing homes, and community organizations.
As demand for his products and services expanded, Anthony continued to invest in growth. In 2025, he secured an SBA 7(a) loan that enabled the acquisition of a dry-cleaning and tailoring business in Washington, D.C., creating a second location and expanding the company’s sustainable fashion and garment-care capabilities. The acquisition allowed Anthony to vertically integrate key services, broaden his customer reach, and establish a presence in a major metropolitan market.
Today, Troy Anthony has grown from a single Hartford storefront into a multi-location enterprise serving thousands of customers across the Northeast and beyond. His designs have been showcased on international stages, including Paris Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week, demonstrating how a Connecticut small business can compete globally. The company now operates locations in Hartford and Washington, D.C., employs team members across both markets, and serves more than 5,000 customers through its retail, tailoring, and fashion services.
Troy Anthony’s impact extends well beyond business growth. He regularly mentors aspiring entrepreneurs and fashion professionals, speaks at high schools, colleges, and universities, and provides internship opportunities that expose students to careers in fashion, design, and business ownership. Through community outreach initiatives, educational programming, and charitable giving, he continues to invest in the next generation while creating jobs and economic opportunities in underserved communities.
In recognition of his entrepreneurial success, innovation, and commitment to community impact, Troy Anthony was named the Connecticut SBA District Office’s 2026 Microenterprise Business of the Year. His journey demonstrates how leveraging SBA resources, embracing innovation, and remaining committed to community can transform a local business into an internationally recognized brand.