We’re looking forward to introducing you to Monique l. Ffrench. Check out our conversation below.
Monique , it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I try to start my mornings with stillness, moments of prayer, gratitude, and intention. Before the chaos of the day begins, I ground myself spiritually and mentally. I avoid diving straight into my phone or emails. Instead, I ease into the day with a slow ritual: soft music, journaling or reading something inspiring, and a warm cup of herbal tea, often blends inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine, which I’ve grown to love for their healing and balancing properties. Those first 90 minutes are sacred. It’s my way of protecting my peace and setting the tone for how I show up as a woman, a creative, and a founder. Velvet Muze was born from that same quiet inner voice, so I always return to it before stepping into the busyness of building the brand.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Monique L. Ffrench, and I’m the founder and creative director of Velvet Muze, a Caribbean-inspired fashion label that explores the multidimensional nature of womanhood through elevated style. Velvet Muze was born from my love of storytelling, sensuality, and identity rooted in my Jamaican heritage but designed for the modern muse who lives with intention and edge.
What makes Velvet Muze special is how it merges soulful femininity with statement fashion. Each capsule is built around archetypes, women who embody different moods, energies, and aesthetics, so it’s more than just clothing; it’s about becoming. Our pieces are designed to feel both nostalgic and forward-thinking, where elegance meets bold expression.
Right now, we’re focused on building our retail presence and expanding into platforms, while continuing to design thoughtful seasonal capsules that speak to women who aren’t afraid to show up as art in motion.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world tried to define me, I was a dreamer a quiet observer with a vivid inner world. I was the little girl who played dress-up not just for fun, but to become different versions of herself. I was soft but strong, imaginative, sensitive to energy, and always drawn to beauty, rhythm, and deeper meaning. I moved through life intuitively, before being taught to second-guess that.
In many ways, Velvet Muze is my way back to her. It’s a reclamation of that unfiltered self, the one who didn’t shrink, code-switch, or over-explain. She was full of wonder, and she moved with both grace and fire. And now, through this brand, I get to give her the mic again.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me presence. It stripped away the noise, the ego, and the illusion of control. It taught me how to sit with myself, raw, uncertain, and unmasked, and still find worth there. While success often validates you in the eyes of others, suffering forces you to validate yourself. It taught me how to listen to my body, to my spirit, to God, and how to move with humility and grace even when things fall apart.
It gave me depth. It gave Velvet Muze its soul. The softness, the sensuality, the strength behind the brand, all of that was carved out in seasons of discomfort. Success shines, but suffering grounds. And without that grounding, nothing I build would feel real.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
That softness is not weakness. That being guided by intuition is just as powerful as logic. That beauty, real beauty is spiritual. And that everything I create, say, or wear holds energy.
I don’t always say these things out loud, but they shape everything I do. I believe we’re all born with an inner voice that already knows the way, we just forget to listen. That truth is the foundation of how I live and create.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes, because I’ve already had to. There were seasons where I was building in silence, no applause, no reassurance, just vision and faith. And that’s when I learned that real devotion isn’t about being seen, it’s about being aligned.
I create because I’m called to. Whether it’s recognized or not, I know when something is honest, intentional, and true to who I am. That’s the standard I hold myself to not external validation, but internal resonance. Praise is beautiful, but purpose is what sustains me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.velvetmuze.com
- Instagram: thevelvetmuze
Image Credits
Photographer: Mollie Pie based out of Toronto, Canada
& The Velvet Muze Team
