Today we’d like to introduce you to Ladeen Saint Jean.
Hi Ladeen, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi. My name is Ladeen and I’m a Caribbean creative with a passion for hand lettering, art, and design. My story begins years and years ago at a very young age, where I began my creative journey by drawing everything in sight. I was only in elementary school then so… my work wasn’t much to look at, but I continued to have a natural talent for art throughout my school years. When it came to my senior year of high school, I remember my parents asking what I wanted to pursue when I went to college. I thought about that question for a while and the answer was “no idea” for months.
One day I was flipping through a magazine and saw an ad for a new perfume fragrance. The perfume bottle was so elegantly placed at the bottom of the ocean, covered in beautiful vibrant coral (or so it seemed). What a unique way to depict a perfume bottle, I thought. It was that ad that made me realize I wanted to become a graphic designer and master the art of visual communication. Graphic design seemed like the perfect mix between fine art and digital art. So, I got my B.A. in graphic design at the University of Central Florida (Go Knights!) and set off to start my career as a designer. As I was working, I discovered my newfound love for hand lettering through my favorite hobby: bullet journaling. Like any true millenial, I watched lots of YouTube videos about hand lettering and practiced, practiced, practiced until my bullet journal became a functioning work of art!
Fast forward to October 2020, my son Kaleb was born and my family fell in love. I decided to try something new with my hand lettering skills and create custom shirts for my siblings and parents with their new family nicknames (Nani, Papa, Tati, etc. They absolutely LOVED the shirts and suggested that I start a business making similar items. So I did just that!
Ladeesign Apparel was born in March of the following year (2021) as an online Instagram shop. The name of my shop is a combination of my name “Ladeen” and “design,” which I thought would be unique and add a personal touch. I always thought about creating custom shirts but never really knew what my niche would be. After creating the shirts for my family, I knew that I wanted to do hand-lettered apparel because it fits my personal style and I LOVE creating lettered designs. As for my audience, as a mommy, I have a huge soft spot for ladies and babies, so that’s who I cater towards today. I hope that my shop can provide a unique experience for ladies, mommies, and munchkins while allowing me to share my passion and creativity with the community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting a custom apparel shop in today’s market definitely has its benefits and challenges. On one hand, everyone is on social media/the internet more than ever, thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic. On the other hand, a lot more people are creating online products. Especially custom t-shirts. Although I’m still trying to get the word out about my shop, there are so many resources made available to me which has made the process of starting an ecommerce business much easier than years prior. With that being said, my current major struggles as a startup mainly consist of distinguishing myself from the crowd, mastering the art of social media marketing, and oh… being a full-time “stay-at-home” mom! Being a new mommy and business owner can feel dang near impossible sometimes but God has somehow provided away (and the energy) for me to juggle the two. I strongly believe that the Lord has called me to start this shop and therefore, He will provide what I need to succeed as long as I put in the work.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At Ladeesign Apparel, I create custom hand-lettered apparel for ladies and babies. My custom designs are all uniquely hand-lettered and designed specifically for each client, while my “Ready-to-wear” and “Semi-custom” designs are ready to hit the streets!
I specialize in hand-lettered designs, which I normally draw by hand, refine, and vectorize for print. My hand lettering style is pretty diverse, however, all of my designs have a fresh and feminine feel which is perfect for any occasion (especially special events/photoshoots).
I am known for my sleek designs and feminine aesthetic, which are carried out in everything from my Instagram page to packaging. As a graphic designer I’m very big on branding and strive to maintain a consistent look and feel throughout every aspect of my shop. I pride myself on my work and do my best to make sure that customers are getting the same great quality with every purchase.
As a self-taught lettering artist, I am very proud of how far my lettering skills have come thus far! It’s amazing what you can achieve when you really practice and stick to something you love. I believe that being a black hand lettering artist and designer sets me apart from the crowd. Unfortunately, I don’t see enough black calligraphers and lettering artists out there so I’m here to inspire other black female artists to get creating and share their skills with the world!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love that there is so much to do in Orlando! From theme parks to nature parks to diverse eateries and restaurants, my family and I are always able to go out and try something new. My least favorite thing about our city is that it’s always under construction!
Pricing:
- Custom Items range from $25 – 34
- Ready to Wear Items range from $20 – 25
Contact Info:
- Email: info@ladeesign.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladeesignapparel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladeesignapparel
Image Credits
RTW Photography
