Meet Tenita Edwards of Dean & Co. in Decatur

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tenita Edwards.

Tenita, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
So, I have always been into the arts since I was a kid. I discovered my artistic abilities in elementary school. This may sound small but my earliest memory is my years of learning how to write my name in cursive. I would come home from school and ask my granny, Gloria Dean, to teach me and early on my penmanship was above average and that’s when I knew. I would say a vast majority of my relatives are really creative but there was one in particular, my cousin Lamont, who would come home from school and draw portraits, cartoon characters, you name it. I always wondered if I could do the same but I wasn’t in competition, I was just curious. So, I would just practice and eventually I was just as good as him. I think from that point forward I knew that I had a gift of mastering things with my hands. I am a creator though, it wasn’t just about drawing for me. It was about creating something from beginning to end no matter what it was and being proud of it.

As stated before, I come from a family of creatives from musicians, artists, hairstylists, choreographers, seamstress, even builders. So, I was always curious about what else I was capable of, so I learned and I think that was the ultimate goal for me was becoming a Jill of all trades. But my mom, Cynthia, along with my grandmother had always made sure I was dressed and carried myself a certain way. I know they are the origin of my style/beauty influences and the reason I got into fashion and understanding it. My mom would always say “your appearance is everything”. Later on, I found out my aunt, Penny was a seamstress, so at age 13 I learned how to sew. I would sketch and sew pieces here and there but my first big project was making my 12th-grade prom dress. That’s when I knew I would have my own line of clothing.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Throughout this process I’ve definitely been challenged along the way but I wouldn’t call it a rough road, more like learning experiences. At times, I would find myself distracted and not really focused on the ultimate goal. So, my biggest obstacle overall was just finding a balance between school, my business and personal life. Thankfully through the support of my family and friends I was always reminded of what was most important.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Dean & Co. story. Tell us more about the business.
The name of my company is Dean & Co. Alongside my artistic capabilities, I am a designer and I specialize in garment construction. I’ve always been known for being creative and ultimately a Jill of all trades. What I am most proud of is finally finding a name for my company and letting it organically unfold without any limitations. The ultimate goal for Dean & Co. is to be a full-service agency that creates art in multiple variations be it fashion, textile design, art direction, photography, etc. What sets me apart from others is that I’ve studied almost every facet of the process of art and design, so that I’m able to be 100% involved, all the way down to the creation of fabric.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in the concept of luck, I’ve been blessed to be a part of a family full of creatives. So, everything from hair and makeup, photography, brand concepts, models, event production, marketing, etc. It has all been an in-house family affair. I wouldn’t trade that for anything. I definitely think it’s my hard work that has gotten me where I am but for me it’s about resource as well i.e., family. They have helped make the journey not only manageable but enjoyable.

Contact Info:

• Website: deanandcobrand.com
• Email: deanandco.clothing@gmail.com
• Instagram: @_deanandco

Image Credit:
Jarius Moore

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