We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Janyelle Milton . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Janyelle below.
Janyelle , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I think its important to mention that in highschool you couldn’t find me dead in gym shoes or jeans….I thought it was masculine and it wasn’t my style. I was into heels and dresses. After graduating from College I settled down in corporate America in the downtown Detroit area. My life became parking structures and a lot of Walking. So I started to venture towards more comfortable shoes…. I ended up falling ill and really couldn’t do heels because they made my body ache more than it was. So I really started to look for comfortable alternatives. So naturally I checked into gym shoes but everything was either too masculine, childish or athletic. I begin to realize there was a segment in the Sneaker industry that did not exist. Where was the Sneaker that was for women like me? Who’s not a sneakerhead and into J’s or the athlete looking for performance Sneakers but a sophisticated woman who wanted a sleek, stylish high quality sneaker that excited me like heels did. So I started my own Brand and created what I liked.
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As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Janyelle Marie Milton founder of J Marie Premium Sneakers. I’m a native of Detroit went to Southeastern Highschool, and attending Henry Ford Community College and the University of Michigan with a degree in management.
I dont have any prior design education but I did take the Sneakers Essentials course through Complex, FIT and Yellowbrick.Everything is self taught. I’ve always been into footwear and design.
I started J Marie Premium Sneakers to fulfill a need that wasn’t being met for me turned out it was women out there like me.
J Marie Premium Sneakers are conceived in Detroit handcrafted in Italy. Our Premium Sneakers are 100% Italian leather in Premium finishes like faux zebra, crocodile and Python in vibrant colors. The line consist of Athleisure, fashion and High fashion women Sneakers and limited edition heels, boots and men’s Sneakers. J Marie Premium Sneakers are Style| Quality| Comfort| Color!
I’m proud of how far my Brand has grown since 2019 and being featured on Essence.com twice!
When you purchase a pair of J Marie Premium Sneakers you are getting a handcrafted, 100% Italian leather sneaker in a collectors box. My designs are bold and unique.\
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I think we live in a society where a lot of people just copy what someone else does that makes it look easy…and they lack the passion that carries you when you aren’t profitable or things are tough. This creates what I call “Fly by night” businesses.
I think the fact that I’m still going and improving has build my reputation.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Just started a Sneaker brand as s female is resilient in itself. I had people say to me….its so many big brands that have a monopoly on the industry and its Male dominated…you brand will not be able to compete.
To hear that and keep going is resilient.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jmariepremiumsneakers.com
- Instagram: @jmarieshoes85_premiumsneakers
- Facebook: J Marie Premium Sneakers
- Linkedin: Janyelle Milton
- Twitter: N/A
- Youtube: J MARIE PREMIUM SNEAKERS
- Yelp: N/A
Image Credits
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