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Meet Paulensia Shepard of Highly Favored Apparel in Chandler

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Paulensia Shepard.

Paulensia, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Back in 2016 I had to undergo surgery. During my recovery period I found myself with a lot of time on my hands, so I began the art of crafting. I started off with a gift basket for my sister. The basket included a homemade T-shirt with a quote she really liked at the time. I remember her being  so pleased with her shirt that she said to me, “Sis you should really sell these.” I just laughed. Although she was thrilled with her gift, I particularly was not. The items I purchased were from the local craft store, and although the quality was OK…it was just that…OK. However, In my head I could not stop hearing  my sister’s suggestion. So then the ball started rolling with the question: how can I make a great quality shirt that represents where faith and fashion meet? I presented the business idea to my husband and he too shared the same concerns I had from a consumer’s standpoint. At this point is where I became obsessed with making a great quality garment. That obsession led to research and development which gave birth to Highly Favored Apparel,LLC established in 2017.

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?
No, the road has not been smooth. One of the major challenges I faced was the lack of a business background. I knew absolutely nothing about being a business owner or owning a business. However, with continuous and endless research, I can proudly sit here today with confidence and say I am a self taught business woman. The second thing I would say that was a challenge for me is “fear”. The fear of the unknown and the requirement of having to go outside of my comfort zone. Thankfully however, my brother suggested consulting a mentor, and I did. This was a game changer for me as he, along with my husband, really pushed me and encouraged me to believe in myself and  in proof of my concept.

Tell us about your company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
Highly Favored Apparel is a faith based clothing company that was established in 2017. We are now an e- commerce store and also participate in local vendor events in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. Our name was chosen from the Bible in reference to Psalms(90:17). We evolved from the calling of bringing faith and fashion together. Our brand is a mixture of Jesus,love,originality, and class. We specialize in creating custom high quality t-shirts that are comfortable,trendy,and yet affordable for the whole family! Our goal is to bring people together and provide believers of all walks of life a way to express their faith. We are proud that each garment allows its owner to represent God’s kingdom without having to even say one word! We believe that this is what sets us apart from others along with the fact that our shirts are also designed in other languages. We also offer the option to have you shirt distressed, giving your shirt an elevated level of customization. All of our garments are custom and handmade to order with love.  Highly Favored Apparel is more than just a brand; it’s a lifestyle.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Our plan for the future is to continue to bring people of all walks of life together by going global with our message. We are looking forward to the continuous growth and expansion. In a short future I definitely see our apparel in department stores nationwide and so forth. HFA wants to continue to uplift people and help them look trendy through our apparel.

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