DHS grad Justice Waite wants to merchandise her Japanese pop culture jewelry, clothing
Graduation at Destrehan High School is nearly in the rear view mirror for Justice Waite, who is eagerly looking toward to growing her already two-year-old business called Silly Sweet Shop.
Her designs are not about baked goods – exactly.
Well, it’s jewelry that looks like baked goods, playing off Japanese pop culture fashion, which fits her Japanese ancestry and her passion for designing jewelry that look like sweet pastry. But that’s what her customers like and want, and she’s focused on making her dream happen.
“It started as a hobby,” said Waite. “I’ve been doing it forever and, when I thought I could really do this, I decided to make it into a career. It doesn’t feel like work actually.”
Waite is on a mission to find materials that preserve the quality of her work while also keeping them affordable to anyone who wants her work. Taking a bit of inspiration from her artist grandfather, she also sought to keep her style “fluffy” and “cartoony.”
This sweet style is huge in Japan and fast gaining appeal worldwide, she said. Her work has connected her to people in Europe and Asia, and they’re helping her advertise her pieces.
Waite also dresses the part, donning the bright-eyed, pop style clothing or anime’ style of her look and designs.She’s been leading the double life of a student and entrepreneur for at least two years, juggling her GPA with the issues of start-up business owners such as product development, identifying markets and product distribution. At 18 years old, she’s already taken on the River Region Chamber of Commerce’s “mini Shark Tank” or Entrepreneur Academy, which she won.
“I was really shocked,” Waite said of the win. ”I was so nervous, but apparently I was really strong in speech and defending my business. I had automatic gratitude and just felt like I achieved my goal at such a young age.”
Waite’s going to the regional competition in Boca Raton, Fla., and, if she wins there, she steps up to compete for national sponsors and a hot spot in mass distribution.
If she wins, her work will go into Walmart stores for mass distribution and set her on the fast track to her ultimate goal – to acquire her own store in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, Calif.
Being an entrepreneur has taught her valuable insights, too.“Trying to take on everything myself,” she said of one of her earliest lessons. “I do have a lot of support and help. I had to learn to trust people, too, and relying on other people, as well as myself. I just want to do everything alone and sometimes you can’t.”
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