Meet Shontavia James of Draped in Envy in Metro Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shontavia James.

Shontavia, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am the CEO of Draped in Envy- Personality Apparel. I was born in Atlanta, Ga. Growing up as the oldest of 3 girls, and a Mother whom many considered a “Diva”, fashion has always been apart of my life. I’ve always had my own sense of style. Wearing what I want, how I want it. Throughout high school, I introduced myself to many different fashion icons. Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Dorothy Dandridge to name a few. I was intrigued by those ladies and their fashion necessities. I won “Best Dressed” my senior year in High school, voted by my graduating class, 2007. I then headed to college. I attended Alabama State my freshman year. Within my first year there, it was evident that this was a big runway. My best friend at the time and my roommate started a small circle, and we wanted to look like the upperclassmen on campus. Every Wednesday on the yard, the ladies were always in high heels, and cute skirts or dresses. We had a theme for each day of the week with what we would wear. Wednesday’s we wore pink! (Go figure right.)

We would take pictures around campus in our heels, and cute outfits. But our feet would be killing us after the day was over, because we were not used to wearing heels. I then transferred to Texas Southern University in Houston, TX. I danced as a majorette in the band, “Motion of the Ocean”. We were a big deal in the band world and around campus. It gave me a lot of confidence and it came with a lot of attention too. Even TxSu, I was always known as the person who had dressed really well. Even at the smallest events, they would say “I would overdo it, with my outfits”. But hey, that was just me. I lived for dressing up. I always get asked “Where did you get this, where did you get that from?”. Everyone around me knows that I never cared about wearing what others are scared to wear. I’m the one that will put it on and rock it.

After I graduated from college, I started a career with Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Even in the corporate world, I still use my sense of style through business suits, dresses and high heels. I wanted to do something outside of my career which gave me an edge and opportunity to share my style and fashion for the world to see. I spoke to my family, and friends about my ideas, but still never moved forward with it. My best friend Shayla pretty much pushed me to get it going, she literally told me ” Stop talking about and do it. Don’t be afraid .” So I started Draped in Envy. At first, it started out as a T-shirt line. I would think of cute, edgy, bossy sayings and create shirts. With my shirts, I would then style them in different ways and she versatility behind just a T-shirt.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Has it been a smooth road, issa a No for me. I’ve faced many challenges. Challenges thinking of the next dope saying to put on a shirt. Finding my audience. Evening selling products. In the past, starting a new business, you were opened to many paths with branding yourself. Well, Covid-19 stopped all of that for me. I had to mainstream my business with just social media. I couldn’t do pop up shops, I couldn’t really go out and promote my business as I wanted. All I could do was post things on social media. As a customer to at times, I know people get scared to spend money on things they don’t really know about it. That’s tough. How do you get through it? I got discouraged at times and wanted to give up but my support system always pushed me.

Draped in Envy – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Draped in Envy is a personality apparel line. Like I mentioned in the beginning, I started out creating shirts. I would go live on social media and play dress up. Showing the versatility of just wearing a T-shirt. After so many shirt ideas, I got stuck one day and felt as though I was repeating looks, and my photo shoot was that day. I left the shirt at home and didn’t even realize it until after my hair and makeup was done. It started raining, I mean it was a disaster to say the least. I said “F it” I give up. It really bummed me out. I cried to my mom and best friends about feeling shut and closed in because I can really do so many things besides “Shirts” but I was afraid. I was afraid of what others would think, I was afraid of if it would be enough or too much for some. I prayed about it that night and asked God to guide me, give me clarity, a purpose, and lead me down my own path, that’s just for me. I woke up that next day with one thought on my mind, and that was “Go for it”. So I’ve decided to venture out with Draped in Envy and step outside of just selling T-shirts. So I’ve sketched pieces together and came up with different collections that I will be releasing over time. I am still saying Draped in Envy is a personality apparel line, known for the edgy, bossy and dope apparel, that some may be nervous to wear. I say personality because we will create a lot of things like shirts, dresses, bags, hats, etc., and when you think of personality, you think of “The type of person you are”. No matter what it is, you wear it how you want. And being able to express yourself without designer labels and at an affordable price was what I wanted to deliver and cater to.

I am most proud of the simple fact that I “Did It”. I talked about my own clothing line for so long and wanting to bring something to the table for people to really see who I am. It took years, but what I am most proud of is that I started “Draped in Envy”. From every like, share, comment, and purchase I am forever grateful and will work extremely hard to bring my fashion to so many doorsteps.

What sets me apart from others is that my goal is to impress every customer at every opportunity. I’m very transparent with my business and I want others to see that. I am ME.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment was making my first $1000 in 45 days. With only being able to promote from social media. No pop up shops. I would bring product with me when I went to visit my parents in Columbus, GA. I would drive around to meet customers with their purchases. Having to find alternative ways to brand myself and create content that would catch the eye of your next potential customer was exciting to me. I couldn’t have done any of this without God, my family and friends.

Pricing:

• Shirts range between $15-$20
• Accessories are $10-$20
• Apparel $20-$35

Contact Info:

• Website: WWW.DRAPEDINENVY.COM
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @Drapedinenvy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drapedinenvy

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