We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jelicia Lloyd. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jelicia below.

Hi Jelicia, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

In December 2018 I was invited to be a part of a street art show that featured local artists in Bryan Texas. I figured the show would be small but something fun to work on to showcase my work locally, mostly to inspire other young black kids like me trying to pursue their dreams and become an artist or a creative. The show itself was titled return of the Mack, and the theme Was the 80s. And before I even knew I was going to be a part of the show I just had this really cool ideal to do an Afro grunge, inspired collection. Once I say yes to the project the art ideals that I had for the different garments just kind of flow together really nicely. Originally I was going to show this collection in a different fashion show but the fashion show ended up being canceled, and the theme of this current show kind of fit the concept of my collection perfectly. How quickly everything just kind of came together as I was designing was poetic. It was almost effortlessly how everything just came together. I was very afraid at first that the luxe I was creating were gonna be confusing or I thought that they wouldn’t fit together at all. Once I had the model standing side-by-side it was clear to me that this Collection was going to be epic.
I had spent so much time on each piece, to create a sort of uniqueness to each look, that each look was art.
Just a fast forward to the show once the looks went down the runway, I could tell how impressed everyone was, how excited everyone was to see something different something unique something special in our hometown, I was crowded by a bunch of people trying to understand how I came up with the looks.

This project meant a lot to me because as a kid growing up I always imagine that I would be a Contant creator or a fashion designer. To have my pieces showcase in front of a crowd of people that gave such a positive response was like a dream. It meant so much to me to show my skills in my hometown little old Bryan Texas.

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?

I first started my career in fashion design in college after interning with a Contant creator by the name of burgundy woods in San Antonio Texas. during my time with her I would learn how to edit videos, create press-release, interview individuals, creating contents for blogs, and most of all how to run a successful business.

My brand is called JL complex and we create unique garments and we also do customizations, alterations, concept boards, mood boards, and specifications sheets.

One thing I would say that sets JL Complex apart from other brands, is the amount of attention we pay to our consumers. As a brand focus on getting to know the people that are wearing our clothing or who want to be a part of our brand. We look for ways to get our customers involved with both the brand the art industry in the community as well. We are constantly thinking of ways to redefine
fashion and The meaning of art.

One thing that I’m most proud of as an artist is that I’m always going to create something that makes individuals think about how they want to see themselves. If we as individuals can put on a piece of clothing that makes us feel invincible or have some sort of confidence as a fashion designer I have done my job.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I feel some non-creators don’t understand how creative‘s have the desire to create art and want to use that as a means of living. Mostly because that concept of being an artist is risky and can be unrealistic to some people. One major thing I feel some non-creative don’t understand is how artist can look like a “failure” Trying to pursue a non-traditional way of living. A lot of people fail to realize that art is all around us. It’s in the plants, it’s in the grocery store, it’s in the gym, it’s in the car, it is a car. As a creative that has the skills and talent to make works of art, they constantly have this burning desire to create and produce some sort of piece of art. The separation between art and life is blurred because art becomes such a huge part of their life. Just to put the concept in short form being an artist is kind a like being an athlete. All you ever wanna do is work on your craft.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A very big lesson that I had to unlearn at a very young age was that not everyone is going to like what you’re doing. The amount of frustration I would have towards both myself and other people would sometimes discourage me. I would constantly obsess over how I could get more people to like what I was doing. And sometimes I would become so involved with this action that I would forget why I was even creating in the first place. Once I figure out that I have to first make myself happy and be content with what I’m doing and what I’m creating I was able to move pass the active focusing on what other people thought about my work.
It is super easy to get caught up in trying to please everyone that your art Can become meaningless. Working like this can make you discouraged and it could Destroy your love for creating. So I had to redirect my focus, And remember why I was creating and who I was creating for.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thejlcomplex.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jlcomplex?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jelicia-lloyd-1a1ab3ba

Image Credits
Madeline Dodson Tori Johnson