We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jennifer Chesnutt. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jennifer below.
Alright, Jennifer thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
I’ve always believed that in order to satisfy your soul’s desire, you have to look to what inspired you as a child. For me, that was clothing and indigenous culture. I can remember going to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum and being fascinated by the exhibit about the Mayans of Central America. I was drawn to all the bright colors of their textiles, which have been handwoven for centuries. I did not realize until much later that this would become my career, but I feel compelled to preserve indigenous culture by reinventing the use of their traditional textiles. My interest in fashion and indigenous fabric blossomed at Bonnaroo 2012 when I met the owner of a business called Global Just Designs, who was selling clothing, boots, and jewelry made in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. As before, I was drawn to the vibrant colors and patterns of the fabrics and just knew that I had to become involved. A friendship began for me and Jessi Long, and I started working for her booth and incorporating my handmade clothing into her existing designs. Eventually, my husband Jesse and I took over the business, and I became the sole designer and creator of the clothing. This included annual trips to Guatemala to meet and work with the artisan collectives that were the heart and hands behind Global Just Designs, which we renamed Woven Wisdom. It has been my honor to get to know these Mayan indigenous artisans and to help them support their families and communities through their culture and their craft. I would not be doing any of this without them, because it is the spirit of the Maya that has always inspired my visions and my work.
My humble mission is to help preserve their indigenous culture because it’s important that we not lose the wisdom and knowledge of the elders of this planet. Indigenous people remember how to live in harmony with each other and the Earth, and they are creating from a pure source of love. I have watched the women weaving and embroidering their sacred garments, and they are usually sitting in a circle chatting with each other like it’s just another day. Meanwhile, they are creating prayers with their hands, an art that is becoming lost in our world today. Much of the youth of Guatemala views the traditional style of dress and culture as old-fashioned, which is why I am even more inspired to help preserve it by creating modern fashion with their timeless textiles.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My story is probably a typical one for my generation, which is that I went to college for a Bachelor’s degree that I have never used. I felt lost after graduation, like I had never really stopped to get to know myself or what I was truly passionate about. But I always loved clothing, costumes, and dressing up, so when I started going to music festivals and artistic events like Burning Man, I quickly became interested in learning how to sew. My degree is in journalism and writing, which is an art form in itself, but looking at black and white words on a page never inspired me in the way that textiles do. It is so fun to physically interact with fabrics and create something in the material world that has previously existed in your mind. To me, clothing design is the perfect art because it is functional and can elevate the mood and confidence of the wearer. Feeling daunted and jaded by the educational establishment, I decided that I would learn to sew on my own. There were many years of trial and error before I found my fairy godmother, Janet White, who has taught me everything useful that I know. With her guidance, I was finally able to take the ideas in my head and create patterns on paper. Sewing is like architecture, and there are a lot of parts that are frustrating about it. But the way to succeed at anything is to never give up.
I have been sewing since 2007, and I finally feel like I can make anything that I want. My favorite things to make, of course, are things that I would wear, and I require comfort and functionality above all else. I love to use soft, high-end textiles like wool, silk, and double brushed knits. I also love to rescue items like jean jackets from the thrift store and upcycle them with my fabric scraps. I love oversized hoods, and I try to put pockets in everything. Most importantly, I try to design pieces that will fit and flatter all bodies. For me, sizing is the hardest part of making clothing, because everyone’s body is unique. So I make things that stretch, or wrap, or are loose and open. It is so fun for me to see all ages, sizes, and gender identities try on my clothing because then it really comes alive for me. My business relies on in-person events because I love interacting with my community and sharing my passion face-to-face.
I am very proud of what I do because I worked hard to get where I am and have not taken any shortcuts. All my patterns and clothing are made by me, with no help from anyone except my mom, on the occasion that I have a big event looming. And I am proud to feature the work of indigenous Mayan artisans, who not only supply me with textiles, but also create their own jewelry, shoes, bags, and handwoven scarves. I offer clothing that is made to last and can be passed down to future generations because it is special. We have seen the devastating results of fast fashion, and I want to do what I can to remind everyone that clothing can be art, and that it holds power.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
The biggest lesson I have had to unlearn is a tricky one, because it runs in the subconscious mind of our society. That message is that we are not free to be ourselves. I believe that so much of our culture is centered around trying to get us to fit in and be like everyone else. It exists in advertising, social media, religion, and even education. My experience in school was not one of exploring my unique talents and interests, but rather of following a standardized curriculum. I always felt like I was different from everyone, like I had strange dreams and ideas that had no real outlet until I was in my 20s. Even then, I did not find a lot of support in veering from the traditional path of success and trying to forge my own way. I mostly felt that no one believed in me but myself, which is a very lonely road to walk. There were so many times that I felt like learning to sew and trying to create a business was pointless and that I should just give up and go back to school to get a “real” job. The irony of this is that the United States was founded on the dream that people could come here and create life how they wished. We are incredibly lucky that we have the option to start a small business, but they don’t make it easy. Taxes on small business are 30%, which is a lot when you are just starting out and trying to build clientele and revenue. In my case, I had no experience in business or even sewing, and it has taken a lot of trust and determination to keep going. During Covid, I was scared that my business would not survive because I rely on in-person events. But I was incredibly fortunate to be assisted by the Southwest Community Fund and the SBA, who offered me grants to help keep me afloat. The SBA also offers free business courses, which I am slowly working through because it’s not my favorite part of the job. But there are a great many resources out there in the form of grants, loans, and classes that I recommend to anyone who needs support.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
The thing that has helped me build my reputation the most is my integrity. I have been steadfast in who I am, what I stand for, and what I am offering. If you start a business, you have to believe in yourself and your product because you won’t make it if you don’t. You need to love what you’re doing so much that you won’t quit no matter what happens. For me, I would sew even if I wasn’t running a business and selling my products because I am compelled to do it. I love to play with textiles. I love to work with my hands. And I love to make something that can be worn and cherished for a lifetime. We are living in an interesting time where we can share ourselves on social media with a global community. Considering that my generation spent over a decade without any of this technology, it is an unprecedented development, But it comes with a great responsibility. There is a lot of room for ego manipulation, and it is more important than ever to represent yourself with integrity. I have spent a lot of time in the pursuit of healing and spirituality so that I would be an unshakable force in my own life’s journey. It is very easy to compare yourself with others and feel jealous or inferior, and this will stop you from succeeding. There are many people who want you to feel this way because it gives them power. So my best advice is this: know yourself, love yourself, trust yourself, and you will be unstoppable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wovenwisdom.earth
- Instagram: @wovenwisdom.earth
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/JUSTAcollective