Lizzie Duplantis and Sarah Ward: Sisters, Best Friends, and Business Partners
Lizzie Duplantis and Sarah Ward are sisters, best friends, and, as it turns out, business partners. The two women founded Miron Crosby, a women’s luxury boot company whose footwear has been featured in Vogue, Elle, and Women’s Wear Daily. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, they returned to their alma mater to speak at the Leaders Unscripted lecture series.
Both sisters are TCU graduates. Duplantis graduated in 2004 with a degree in business administration, while Ward graduated in 2012 with a degree in English.
The founding of Miron Crosby was the result of a lifetime of adoration for cowboy boots, as Ward explained. The Texas natives grew up in far-West Texas on a ranch that had been in their family for over 100 years. When reflecting on their relationship with cowboy boots, Duplantis said, "They were practical and functional, given where we lived, but we also just loved them."
Their uncle owned a boot manufacturing company in South Texas, allowing them to design their own boots from a young age. They would explore the factory, searching for the unique bright pink ostrich leather from the 1970s.
Their early interest in design became the foundation for their company, Ward noted.
After graduating from TCU, both Ward and Duplantis pursued careers in New York City. While there, they often encountered strangers on the street asking about their boots, Duplantis recalled. This led them to recognize a gap in the market for fashion-forward cowboy boots. Upon returning to Dallas, they decided to fill it.
Miron Crosby was founded in June 2017 with its first brick-and-mortar location in Dallas’s popular shopping district, Highland Park. Since then, they have opened locations in Aspen, Houston, and Charlotte, with an Austin location set to open in 2027.
While Miron Crosby's success can be attributed to various factors, its unique approach sets it apart. Duplantis stated, "We don’t look to other cowboy boot companies for inspiration. We look to the runways and high fashion."
The two alums also shared how their TCU experience contributed to their success. From their Greek life involvement to their marketing professors, both sisters expressed gratitude for the positive impact TCU had on their careers, which continues to this day.
In conclusion, they shared their father's advice: "They might outsmart you, but they can never outwork you." This mindset inspired TCU students to create something meaningful.