In a world often dominated by big brands and mass production, one local business shines with creativity and authenticity. Welcome to the colourful world of Steph’s Originals.
Founded in 2019, Steph’s Originals is a female-owned and family-operated business that offers a selection of hand printed apparel, accessories, and home goods. The brand’s founder and CEO, Stephanie LeBlanc, runs the business from her Owen Sound residence, with the help of her husband, Kyle, and two children.
“When you shop small with Steph’s Originals, you are not just supporting our dream, but also our family,” says Steph.
That said, Steph didn’t always think she’d be an entrepreneur; in fact, her journey happened almost accidentally.
Born and raised in Collingwood, LeBlanc had her first child when she was just 15-years-old. As a single mother, she dedicated herself to raising her daughter, describing her as “the coolest kid.”
“I used to be nervous to tell people my age,” Steph admits. “But I did everything I could to raise her incredibly.”
Steph had always been creative, and she put that creativity to good use. When she was a teenager, she started making hemp bracelets and selling them at the restaurants where she worked to earn extra income for herself and her young daughter. For years it was just the two of them, navigating life’s challenges together.
In 2017, Steph met her husband and together they started their life in Owen Sound. Shortly after, she got pregnant with their second child, and it was during this period that her entrepreneurial spirit really started to take hold.
“I’ve always been quick to pick up artsy stuff,” she says.
In the final stages of her second pregnancy, Steph took a sick leave from her job. The stillness of staying at home didn’t sit well with her, so, eager to stay busy, she started making clothing at her kitchen table and purchased a small sewing machine.
Little did she know this seemingly small step would be the start of a budding brand.
“Being a waitress, you’re used to saying busy,” she says. “I was going crazy before my son was born. I didn’t realize I was starting anything substantial.”
She launched an Instagram page to showcase her creations and people began to take notice, congratulating her on her newfound ‘business’. This unexpected encouragement fuelled her passion, so she officially established Steph’s Originals in the winter of 2019.
“Sales kept coming through and I started to realize this could actually be something,” she says. “And it just snowballed from there.”
In the early days, Steph experimented with various techniques and materials for her designs, starting with vinyl and then ultimately choosing screen printing for its superior quality. To this day, every piece of her clothing is printed by hand, highlighting the care and attention to detail that goes into each item.
She also started upcycling to refine her sewing skills. She would take old clothing, deconstruct them, and then add unique patterns and designs, transforming them into something fresh and beautiful.
“I was trying to get used to pulling stuff apart and putting it back together,” she says.
After building a website with her husband, she remembers the thrill of getting her first order from Florida, which made her realize her creations were going farther than she ever imagined.
“I think it’s wild, the power of the internet,” she says. “I’m so lucky.”
The following year Steph’s husband quit his job and joined her business full-time.
Together, they set up a home office and studio in their basement, and this past January, they marked five years in business. Yet, Steph remains just as humble.
“When people ask me what I do, I normally say I make sweaters in my basement,” she laughs.
When it comes to her creative process, she says most of her designs come to her naturally. However, she admits to experiencing creative blocks from time to time. When that happens, she seeks inspiration elsewhere.
“I like to think I have a pretty creative mind,” she says, “but sometimes I am just so lacking in creativity I swear I just have to run away – go on vacay, rest, take time to spark creativity.”
This approach appears to work well for her, as her creations turn out to be a gift to the world. The heart of Steph’s Originals lies in the positive messages they convey.
LeBlanc believes in the power of positivity, so her creations often feature uplifting messages that encourage self-love and kindness, albeit with a touch of sass. In a nutshell, Steph’s Originals reflects Leblanc’s personality.
“It’s fun, it’s bright, it’s pretty… It’s positive affirmations because I need that too. It’s basically me on my best day, but it also reflects the dark days,” she says.
To this day, Steph says her favourite thing is when her customers tell her how wearing Steph’s Originals brightens their days and even garners compliments from strangers.
But it’s not always easy, she says. She has had her share of mean comments from online trolls. Still, like her popular pink hoodie that says ‘It costs zero dollars to be a nice person,’ Steph chooses kindness.
“I’ve learned how to control my emotions when it comes to the online world and not take things too seriously. I think sometimes people don’t realize there is a person behind the business.”
While some designs, like the iconic pink hoodie, never go out of style, she aims to maintain a balance between the timeless and the new, ensuring her products stay special and not mass-produced. So, she makes everything in small batches, and once they’re sold out, that’s usually it, unless she decides to bring some back for a limited time.
Steph also continues to upcycle, offering a selection of unique vintage pieces under her new “Sewn by Steph” line.
Most of her products are sold online, but she also partners with selected stores, such as Maker’s Outpost in Collingwood and Sunflowers and Shorelines in Sauble Beach. Her busiest time is during the holidays, so in the summer, she looks for other opportunities, like setting up shop at pop-up markets and working with other businesses.
One of her mainstay summer activities is participating in the Keady Market. Despite the early mornings, Steph loves it because it allows her to connect with the community, share her experience and interact with the people who support her business.
“I’ve done plenty of markets in the past, but it will be the only one I will continue to do,” she says. “It’s just a good time.”
Apart from that, she tries to release her products in seasonal launches to maintain some order in her life and business. Even after five years, launching a new collection still makes her a bit nervous, but she embraces the uncertainty.
Steph’s Originals has become her life’s work, and she loves that it provides for her family and helps her grow as a person.
“The best advice I can give is to start even if you don’t feel completely ready, just go for it and give it your best,” she says. “I have no idea what the future holds, but that’s what makes it exciting.”
She dreams of having a physical store one day, but for now, she is enjoying the chance to work from home and be creative, and she’s proud of the example she is setting for her children.
“I think what I am doing is really resonating,” she says. “I am proud of myself, and I am proud because I know that my kids can learn from this.”
Written by Maddie Johnson
