Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Deneen Watson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Deneen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

I always knew I was going to work in fashion. From the age of three, I served as a “stylist” for my father. As a teenager I went to an art-focused high school and chose fashion design as my track. I even went to college and majored in Fashion Design. But the field of fashion design was expansive, I had to find my niche.

Upon graduating, I decided to focus on bridal gowns, I have dreamt of wedding gowns all of my life. I took that passion and decided to work at a plus sized bridal salon while working on my master’s degree in Marketing. After all, I am plus sized myself, so I understand the struggle of finding something that fits. I saw first-hand the struggles plus sized women were having trying on dresses that were not made with their bodies in mind. Some brides even came with stories of being mistreated at “average size” stores.

Their experiences brought me back to my teen years. As a plus-sized teenager, I often felt left out and self-conscious when it came to clothes. My experiences as a teen, and now a plus-size adult, have cemented a dream in my heart; to build a bridal brand specifically catered to plus size women. This dream gave birth to my brand J.A.D.E.S. Galleria.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Deneen Watson, and I am a 27-year-old fashion designer. Currently, I offer custom bridal and evening wear for plus sized clients. The structure within my gowns is specifically built for plus size women, not just cut in a bigger size. That means extra boning and other structural pieces in the bodice of a dress to make sure my brides are secure and comfortable.

As my business grows, I will be adding some ready-to-wear pieces to my inventory. Being a fashion designer and recent bride, I believe that everyone should feel comfortable and their most beautiful on their wedding day. Design-wise, I am known for my vintage inspired pieces. My slogan is “Classic Elegance with a Modern Twist.” I take elements from maybe 70’s era clothing. For example, flares and busy patterns, and I make them into modern accents. I am also known for making reversible/removable pieces. I am a woman who loves versatility.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One hard lesson I had to learn was not every opportunity is a good opportunity for your business. Back when I was first starting out, I would be asked to participate in small fashion shows in my area. Being the young entrepreneur I was, I would jump as soon as I heard the word “exposure”. I wasn’t sure who my target market was at that time, so I was willing to show my garments almost anywhere. I learned that not every opportunity presented to you is for you. A lot of the time I would end up spending loads of money to complete my collection for very little exposure. Definitely take your time to think, do your research, and weigh the pros & cons of an opportunity before automatically pressing go.

Is there a mission driving your creative journey?

What is pushing me through my creative journey is that wedding dress shopping as a plus sized woman should not be a “specialized” experience. A size 16 or a size 32 should be able to walk into any bridal shop and try on a dress. Finding a dress that fits your body and your personality as a plus size woman should not feel like finding a needle in a haystack. I want to create greater gown accessibility.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jadesgalleria.com
• Instagram: @jadesgalleria
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JADESGalleria/
• Other: tiktok:@distinctlydeneen
  Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Corrin Gregory