Today we’d like to introduce you to JaVonnie Bryant.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Growing up in Southern California, I leaped at the opportunity to move across the country to attend an HBCU (Historical Black Colleges & Universities) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After earning a degree in Business Management at Southern University A & M College, I moved back home to California and furthered my career in retail. Although I enjoyed aspects of the retail industry, I had no desire to climb the corporate ladder. Creatively, I felt extremely constricted and unfulfilled. My feelings of discontent lead me to enroll in FIDMs (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising) Visual Communications Program.
My creativity & curiosity catapulted to a higher level after being exposed to various avenues of the design industry. I moved on to working as a visual merchandiser, bridal accessories designer, and production coordinator. With a combination of education, work & personal experiences, I decided to finally take on the pursuit of entrepreneurship.
My love for turbans started with wearing head wraps. In the beginning, I would often wear them as a way to creatively express myself, or when I didn’t feel like doing my hair! Soon after, it became an essential part of me. Collecting scarves became a habitual pursuit. The experience of organically wrapping them into unique styles gave me a sense of freedom. I realized that when I wore them, I held my head up higher. Women would always stop me to admire them and study the way they were intricately wrapped. I complimented their admiration by sharing how I achieved the look. They’d often reply with, “I can never get mines to look like that” or “I could never pull that off.” I’d instinctively reassure them, hoping to restore their confidence. The Pre-tied Turban was birthed with the intention of creating a product that would effortlessly assist women in embracing their uniqueness and embody what inspires them to live out loud.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have been many twists and turns along the road. To be honest, it took me many years to build up my confidence and start Zevelyn Jean. I’ve always had great visions and innovative ideas; however, I lacked motivation. All of my opposition came from a place of non-acceptance. For a while, I wasn’t content with who and where I was in life.
When I stopped doubting myself and overanalyzing every detail, I finally understood that I had exactly what I needed to get started. I’ve learned to surrender to my process and to embrace every step with the expectation of being pushed out of my comfort zone and further into the unknown.
My advice to other women is to believe that you are enough, and have everything you need to get started NOW.
We’d love to learn more about your work. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a brand, organization or service provider? What sets you apart from others?
Zevelyn Jean was launched in 2018. My desire was to curate a lifestyle brand that delivers intellectually crafted turbans. My mission is to capture the essence of a woman’s innate ability to dream, create & influence. I believe that visibility is one of the most powerful tools of inspiration.
Each turban is consciously handcrafted to compliment women of all ethnicities while offering the very best in style, quality, and comfort. Merging substance, expression, and innovation, each design is inimitably sculpted by hand to create a distinctive uniqueness.
The Pre-tied Turban was created and designed for the everyday woman on the go. My goal was to embody the same feelings of freedom and confidence that I got when wrapping my hair. Unlike most head wraps, The Pre-tied Turban is lightweight allowing for season-less comfort with an adjustable band for a perfect fit, framing the face beautifully.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
Apps:
Canva – I pretty much create all of my visual graphic here.
Plann – Great visual planner for Instagram.
Pinterest – Almost all of my inspiration comes from here.
Youtube – I’m an avid learner and a true DIY woman.
Books:
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
In The Company of Good Women
Podcasts:
The Goal Digger by Jenna Kutcher – She’s a lovable social media marketing expert.
How I Built This – So many inspiring entrepreneurs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zevelynjean.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zevelynjean/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZevelynJ
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
