I am building the pieces of my brand as I go, growing slowly, and deciding daily to trust in myself.ĭo you have a favorite bag you’ve designed thus far? If so, why is it your favorite? You don’t need to know all the answers yet, have a perfect business plan, or need to know the right people. My only regret is not doing this sooner! Don’t wait, no matter where you are in life, just make a start. I wish I knew that I already had everything I needed to start and I didn’t have to wait for the perfect situation to begin the process. I think finding the courage to start a brand is really the hardest part. What’s something you wish you knew before you started your brand, and something you would tell anyone wanting to launch their own endeavor? Petit Kouraj’s “Lime Daye” tote (courtesy) This will keep you persistent and pointed in the right direction. Keep reinvesting in yourself especially when there is not a clear or immediate payoff and trust in your individuality. I think it’s important to keep reevaluating what, why, and where you want it to take you. There are so many paths that can lead to styling and so many paths to travel down once within it. It’s made me appreciate just how important self expression is to me and how important it is to trust my creative voice. As a freelancer, you essentially have only yourself to rely on which offers many opportunities to discover and challenge your capabilities. Styling is a great career for self exploration.
I learned so many things throughout my styling career. What would you advise people who want to get into the world of styling? You started your fashion career in personal styling, with the likes of Alicia Keys. It was high fashion, it was intelligent, and Black and I just wanted to be a part of creating images as powerful. I never saw Black people being photographed and styled in a way that reflected my gaze. I also remember discovering magazines like, Trace, The Fader, and Untold (whom would later give me my first break in fashion). I wasn’t capable of understanding at the time but I have very vivid memories of how wonderful that outfit made me feel and it’s my earliest recollection of a piece of clothing having that kind of affect me.
I’m wearing a pair of pink overalls with a white rope tie and I wore it with red sandals and socks. I have a picture of my sister and I when I was three-years-old. Which is why I am so proud to make my line in Haiti. Part of me has always been seeking ways to connect back to the Haitian ancestry and culture that I wasn’t exposed to growing up. My immediate family were the only Haitians I knew. I loved growing up in a culturally diverse place such as London, but there weren’t many Haitians living in London at the time. It quickly led to a permanent position where I worked my way up from assisting on shoots to styling my own, which then led to me becoming a freelance wardrobe stylist. I got my start in fashion during my final year at The London College of Fashion, when I took a fashion internship at a magazine called Untold. I was born in London and lived there until I moved New York in 2012.
The Daily spoke to Jean-Baptiste about her career beginnings, favorite bag, love for fashion, and more! The line officially launched via a Moda Operandi trunk show last year, and has since expanded to other shopping platform -plus your Instagram feed, where its fringed bags can be found on the arms of fashion insiders like Elaine Welteroth and Shiona Turini. Petit Kouraj, which translates to “little courage” in Haitian Creole, prides itself on craft each handbag takes at least eight hours (and numerous stitchings) to create. After a lengthy career in fashion styling and editorial, the London-born stylist became inspired by her Haitian heritage after visiting the country in 2018. Nasrin Jean-Baptiste’s fledgling brand Petit Kouraj is only two years old, but has already established itself as a go-to for luxury handbags.
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