UMKC student builds clothing brand rooted in healing and self-expression

  For UMKC student Lorgens Saint-Paul, fashion is more than clothing. It is storytelling, healing and personal growth.

  Saint-Paul, a business entrepreneurship major, launched his clothing brand, Saint Paul Threads, in July 2025 after months of planning and development. What began as an idea during fall 2024 quickly evolved into a deeply personal project inspired by his own life experiences.

  “I wanted to turn the lessons that I’ve learned into something meaningful,” said Saint-Paul. “It started as a clothing brand to help people on their own healing journeys.”

  Originally a computer science major, Saint-Paul said shifting to business helped him pursue entrepreneurship more intentionally. By spring 2025, he committed fully to building the brand, spending months learning design, production and marketing on his own.

  The brand’s foundation draws from Stoic philosophy, which Saint-Paul describes as accepting what cannot be changed while moving forward with a purpose. Through his designs, he hopes customers connect not only with the aesthetic but also with the message behind each piece.

  “I just hope the lessons that I’m teaching really help people from whatever they may face,” Saint-Paul said. “If people like the message behind it, I’ll be fine.”

  Saint-Paul designs most of the clothing himself and continually adapts his creative process to expand artistic possibilities. As the brand grows, he said it has evolved alongside him.

  “The brand is basically an extension of myself,” Saint-Paul said. “As I’m growing, the brand grows too.”

  Balancing academics and entrepreneurship proved challenging. Saint-Paul said he often worked five to 10 hours a day on the brand while managing coursework, waking up early to create designs before class and dedicating free days entirely to production.

  “I honestly don’t know how I did it,” said Saint-Paul. “I just learned how to manage my time with all of it.”

  A major milestone came when Saint-Paul participated as a vendor at a local pop-up market, where he experienced customers interacting with his brand face-to-face for the first time.

  “That experience really showed me I could actually execute my brand in the real world,” said Saint-Paul. “It was rewarding, but I was also really nervous.”

  Since then, Saint-Paul has focused on expanding the brand’s vision into a broader system centered on identity, emotion and shared experiences. Looking ahead, he hopes Saint Paul Threads continues to inspire others to embrace growth and perseverance.

  “It really taught me perseverance,” said Saint-Paul. “Not giving up on it helped me grow, not just the brand but myself too.”

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