Meet Jenn Abban of Maison de Jenne

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenn Abban.

Hi Jenn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a child who loved fashion, I watched my mom’s artistry in making clothes and was fascinated by the intricate details, colors and patterns of the fabrics; this stirred up my interest in creativity and designs. In third grade, I enjoyed my sewing class and wanted to have the perfect stitches and most exquisite fabrics to make clothes. I would spend my free time crocheting and knitting, and figuring out patterns. One of my favorite childhood memories is getting an award in third grade for making a gorgeous baby pink sleepwear that had impeccable stitches and creative designs. I treasured my design and kept that dream in my heart that one day I would be able to recreate unique styles. In high school, I was fascinated with the concept of investment banking and financial management as I watched CNN Business news. I decided to pursue a degree in finance and worked on wall street as an investment banker. I transitioned from corporate finance several years ago when I moved to Los Angeles..

Los Angeles is a city that embraces dreams and creativity and allows people to find expression in their gifts, talents and callings. In my teenage years, I was a fit model for a fashion designer and also participated in beauty pageants. When I moved to Los Angeles I realized that my passion for media, creativity, fashion and entrepreneurship was being awakened. How do you transition from finance to fashion? It’s the grace of God, His direction, and help that helped me venture into the fashion industry. This new chapter in my life requires resilience, taking risks, learning about the industry, identifying my creative gifts and depending on the Lord’s providence. In March 2025, I launched my fashion line business, Jenn Fashion Design (Maison de Jenne).

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I believe that walking in an unfamiliar territory can be challenging; nonetheless, being relentless, diligent and disciplined helped me to overcome the obstacles I faced. Additionally, my faith in the Lord and His peace strengthened my tenacity to pursue my dreams regardless of any circumstance that I encounter.
Transitioning from finance to the fashion industry without any prior experience and training was challenging. I wanted to create a luxury brand that was unique and had to learn about the luxury brand market. It’s one thing to follow the fashion trends and view the remarkable designs from established brands; however, creating my own brand as an emerging designer meant stepping into a world where every choice required courage and conviction. It involved taking significant financial risks—investing in materials, craftsmanship, production, and branding long before seeing any returns. It requires many hours of research to understand the fashion business in terms of manufacturing products, identifying manufacturing companies with ethical practices as well as the process of sourcing the appropriate materials to meet the standards of my brand. I enjoy designing and creating; however, I had difficulty initially developing the technical details of my designs regarding creating a complete tech pack for manufacturers. The process tested my patience but allowed me to develop new skills in designing and to evolve within a short period of time. Through long hours of revisions of designs, technical details, samples, and experimentation and partnering with sample teams abroad, I gained a deeper understanding of my craft and a stronger sense of identity as a designer. What challenged me also refined me—and ultimately strengthened the foundation of Maison de Jenne.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Maison de Jenne is a luxury brand rooted in craftsmanship, authenticity, and timeless design. We specialize in creating high-quality leather handbags with innovative designs that blend bold elegance with modern versatility. Each piece is intentionally designed with premium materials, thoughtful construction, and a refined aesthetic that reflects sophistication without compromising functionality. The brand’s signature is an integrated belt that wraps the bag, adding structure, character, and a sense of being “secure in your style.” The goal is to create unique and innovative designs for women and set new trends in fashion.
What sets us apart is our commitment to storytelling through design. Every bag has a purpose, a feeling, and a narrative behind it—crafted to elevate the woman who carries it. We focus on meticulous details, craftsmanship and ethical production ensuring that each piece feels exclusive and personal.

Our signature style is a balance of culture, innovation, and artistry. Maison de Jenne is known for silhouettes that are distinctive yet wearable, designs that transition seamlessly from day to night, and textures that highlight the luxury of each material. We take pride in creating pieces that not only complement a woman’s look but enhance her confidence, presence, and individuality because we believe in the uniqueness of women.

What I am most proud of brand-wise is the journey—building a legacy from a vision, trusting the process, and producing designs that resonate with women who value quality and self-expression. A brand that allows women to express their inner confidence and identity outwardly. Each brand piece a woman carries is a reflection of their uniqueness.
I want readers to know that Maison de Jenne is more than a brand; it is a celebration of craftsmanship, resilience, and beauty. Our offerings include premium leather bags crafted with care, limited-release collections, and future expansions into curated accessories that embody elegance and purpose.

Maison de Jenne was created for the woman who knows she is the masterpiece—and deserves to carry luxury that reflects her story.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Life is full of risks and whether we may intentionally and consciously take risks, I believe that we all take a certain level of risk with our daily choices. However, I believe that risk taking is subjective. People take risks based on their level of comfort and what they are willing to sacrifice with that risk. I also believe that to be successful and great at what you do, you have to be willing to take risks to grow, learn and leave your comfort zone.
I perceive myself to be a risk taker because I am more on the adventurous side and believe that you may never see what is on the other side without taking risks. Also, taking risks allows you to see your potential and helps you to develop hidden talents and skills that are hidden and lie dormant.
One of the major risks I have taken is to leave the corporate world and become an entrepreneur. It was about pursuing my purpose and using my hidden talents in a space that I had never performed in. This was a major risk because I was no longer attached to stability but to the unknown and uncertainty that comes with entrepreneurship. I had to learn new skills, bring my own vision to life, identify my own branding and designs and use resources without seeing immediate results. This risk required me to develop resilience and develop confidence in my creativity and to believe in myself and my brand. I believe that taking such a major risk allowed me to see the possibilities of how my branding can influence others in the industry and change the trajectory of my life. My faith and trusting the Lord through this new chapter in my career has also sustained me and gave me the courage to take this risk.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://maisondejenne.com
• Instagram: Maison de Jenne
• Facebook: Maison de Jenne
• Youtube: Maison de Jenne