Female Feature Friday: Kate Ward of Saints of June
We are back at it, bringing you another Female Feature Friday. We are so excited to be sharing a new amazing Girl Boss every week. The inspiration behind this series was to highlight the brilliant women running small businesses in an effort to inspire other women to bring their talents to the table. We can do it all, ladies!
We are thrilled to bring you this week’s FFF!! Kate and Saints of June are taking the guess work out of getting ready in the morning and elevating our every day fashion, one stylish bomber jacket at a time! We are so inspired by this #momboss, from her faith to her style. Keep reading for your Friday dose of awesome!
LET’S GET DOWN TO (SMALL) BUSINESS:
Name and Occupation:
Kate Ward, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Saints of June.
Briefly describe your business.
We make modern, vibrant apparel that fits the busy lifestyle of today. Every detail is crafted from a woman's perspective, and every piece is designed to take you from morning commute to an evening out — and everywhere in between. Simply put, Saints of June is all about making women look and feel amazing.
How did Saints of June come about and what were you doing before its creation?
Like so many good ideas, Saints of June was born over a bottle of wine. My husband and I were talking one night about how women were pulled in so many different directions during the day — from kids to work to carpool to finding that ever-elusive “me time” to everything in between — and how yoga gear had just kind of become the norm. And when I talked to other women about their morning rush, I quickly realized that our experiences were the same. We all wanted to look put together, without having to think about an outfit. We wanted to be comfortable, without looking like we were in pajamas. We all wanted a fun, modern option that’s a step above black yoga pants. So I got to work, started sketching, and created my first collection. I like to think of the entire Saints of June brand as your morning wing-woman — helping you look cool and collected, and taking the stress out of what to wear in the morning. My second collection launches in October and includes our hero piece — the bomber jacket — in four prints and solid black. We’ve also got a new kimono that looks great with jeans or paired with a dress. Personally, I’ve always been in the creative field and was a photographer in my past life, shooting commercial work for children’s clothing. I’ve been married to my husband (a Fort Worth Boy!) for 14 years and have three children.
What is your favorite piece in your collection?
I love our bomber jacket — it’s such an amazing piece for a busy woman. Throw it in your gym bag, stash it in your carry-on, wear it out of the yoga studio or with jeans, pair it with an LBD. It’s light, silky, and seriously so versatile. We have five new prints and colors coming out in our second collection, and I’m so excited to give women more options to suit their personal style. I love seeing what people gravitate towards and how they make the bomber their own.
Why is small business so important to you & what does it mean to you to be a woman in small business?
It’s such an exciting time in the world to be a woman. We have so many more opportunities than our grandmothers and even our mothers ever had. If you think about it, every business starts out small and then grows from there —- so I try to remind myself that successful brands like Spanx, TOMs, and Nike started out as an idea and a small business first, too. Small businesses can make a big impact in the market and in society as a whole. I think it’s critical, as a woman in the small business sector, that we are supportive of each other. The idea that there’s not enough to go around is old and tired. I’m a big believer in running my race and supporting the women next to me at the same time.
What was your first real job?
I graduated from the University of Alabama (Roll Tide) and got my first job at Texas Monthly as an advertising sales exec in Austin. I wanted that job so badly and pretty much politely stalked my future boss until I got it. It was by far, one of the most fun experiences of my life. When I left Texas Monthly to move back to Dallas, my boss and I both cried. I learned so much and grew up so much because of that experience.
What motivates you to keep going on the less than awesome days?
A couple things can shift my perspective from a “crappy day” to a day I can grow from. First, I remind myself that God has a plan for me and for Saints of June. He wants good things for us all, and if I continue to stay in close communication with Him, and follow His guidance, things will be OK. I know for certain that when things are not going well with work or with my personal life, I am either #1- not giving God time to do what He needs to do to teach me something. Or #2 - not having faith in God's plan that all will end well. Or #3 - I need to ask Him to come in and strengthen my weak spots. Also, I know that when I come out on the other side, I have a chance to encourage someone just heading into the tunnel. Understanding that wisdom can come from enduring difficult times, and can encourage someone else, really takes the sting out of failure, rejection, or defeat.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own business?
If this is a passion or a desire that’s been eating at you - or won’t leave your thoughts, then give it some serious thought and prayer. As author Christine Caine says, it’s most likely God calling you to take up your baton and join the great race. What I mean by this is, your dreams and desires could very well be the “thing” that God needs you to create, start up, or found to help His cause on earth. We weren’t created to just hang out and suck air, God has a mission for each of us individually, and that usually starts out as a strong desire to do something or a dream that won’t leave you alone. Early on, I took Sara Blakely’s advice about protecting your dreams when you are starting out. Rather than going to friends and family to get their approval, go to God to seek His guidance. His wisdom is steadfast and true, where friends and family can sometimes crush a dream without really understanding why it’s important.
What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made and what/how did you learn from it?
Not slowing down, not listening to my gut, and lack of faith, for sure. My mentor likes to say, “If the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.” And that was my Achilles heel. I started out feeling like if I wasn’t hustling 24/7, then Saints of June would die on the vine, and I really burned myself out and I probably drove my family nuts in the process.
What has surprised you most about running a small business?
How different each day is, one day I am at our photoshoot (so fun and glamorous) and the next I am knee-deep in bolts of fabric in a dusty old warehouse. Owning a small business is a dance between bootstrapping it yourself and outsourcing the parts that are soul sucking to you. Creating SOJ clothing for me is the easy part, doing spreadsheets and projections? Not my strong suit. When I finally admitted it's not where I am strongest, and outsourced it, my energy flow towards what I'm good at and productivity took a big leap forward.
Who have you looked to for advice and mentorship?
God is so good when it comes to providing what I need as far as mentorship and when I need it. I am incredibly blessed to have some wise, experienced women who have supported, encouraged, and challenged me, and told me when my grammar is in-correct on an Instagram post (which unfortunately happens more than it should).
What’s next for Saints of June?
Have you ever looked in your PJ drawer and noticed you have two distinct choices of sleepwear? It’s either - “Yes, it’s on, and I am dressed like a teen vixen and hope my kids don’t see me wearing this,” or “Nope, I am wearing sad menswear and please don’t come near me.” I want to give women another choice that has nothing to do with what you plan to do in your sleepwear. I am so excited to offer this gown to my clients. It’s coming for the holidays and I can’t wait to start talking more about it. We have been blessed to sell out quickly when our collections come out, so I always encourage potential clients to get on Saints of June’s email list. We only send emails when a new blog has been posted or when our latest collection is about to drop. We like to give this list of loyal clients first selection.
LET’S GET THE SKINNY ON FORT WORTH:
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO FORT WORTH?
My hubby is from Fort Worth, but we live in Dallas. When my kids were little they referred to Fort Worth as “horsey-town” because of the rodeo and stockyards. I wouldn’t be surprised if all my kids end up in Fort Worth someday. Below are some of our family favorites and my husband’s childhood favorites.
BEST TACO IN FORT WORTH?
La Familia.
BEST HAPPY HOUR IN FORT WORTH?
I have three kids, happy hour is a luxury I don’t have any more!! LOL
FAVORITE WAY TO SPEND A DAY IN FORT WORTH?
I can’t wait to see George Strait at the Rodeo!
What do you love about being a business owner in Fort Worth?
I am based in Dallas, however, both my family and my husband's family live in Fort Worth. It's a special place. Women in Fort Worth know how to dress and know what they look good in. They aren't afraid to wear color or prints and have fun expressing themselves through fashion. I am so grateful for the support that I've received from my Fort Worth-based friends and family on launching Saints of June.
Tell us 3 of your favorite Fort Worth small businesses.
House of Ellery has great date night dresses & tops, I love the curated gift boxes from Well Gifted, and of course, The Bubble - cutest take on a tennis skirt out there, because you know. . . . it's October and it's STILL 101 degrees in Texas. . . . Lord Help us All!
WANT MORE #GIRLBOSS INSPIRATION?
Be sure to check out our interviews with:
Kori Green of Kori Green Designs
Alyson and Kacey of Esther Penn
And my personal journey with Sip Dine Design