Haitian- Designer- Jean- Louis- Road- To -Success

A GUIDE FOR NEW IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA

The Immigrant Experience :
Haitian Designer Jean Louis

Haitian Designer Jean Louis' Road To Success

Born in Haiti in 1952, Louis J. Jean-Louis came to the U.S. at the age of 19 to face the alienation known only by immigrants who have no family members or friends in a land so far away from home. The cultural shock, the loneliness, language barrier, lack of education, skill and work experience to function in a First-world country made the transition very challenging indeed. However, just like the millions who come to this country, Jean-Louis came in pursuit of a better life, a higher standard of living than that to which he had been accustomed the first 19 years of his youth in Haiti, which is not only a Third-world country but one of the poorest countries in the western Hemisphere.
We sat down with Jean-Louis recently and listened attentively as he inspired us with the tale of the young frail Haitian boy who has through his accomplishments demonstrated the tenacity and entrepreneurial savvy that most of us can aspire after and learn from. His touching story is one of perseverance in abject poverty, great faith in adversity and ultimate triumph in spite of the challenges he had to overcome from the land of his nativity and arrival into the U.S. in April 1974.

What were your goals coming to the U.S.A?
My goals were to improve the quality of my life spiritually, economically and educationally, to provide financial support to my aging parents and their other three children back in Haiti and to fulfill a longstanding prophecy that God would send me to a foreign country to minister to many people.
Are you now living your American dream?
In my case, living the American dream is actually an understatement. God has blessed my family and me beyond all expectations and my wildest dreams. He has given me the opportunity to acquire about 50 commercial and residential properties in California. Above all, He has equipped me with the ability to change dozens of life spiritually, financially and educationally. During my 40-year ministerial tenure and thirty-three year marriage, my wife Sylvia and I have been a Pastor-Teacher, an entrepreneur, a mentor and financial planner to many people, single and married, whom we have trained to be successful in different phases of ministry and in business. We have taught them how to purchase and maintain their own homes, to acquire graduate and undergraduate degrees in many disciplines, to be financially secure for an uncertain future and, more importantly, to serve God and His people throughout the whole Body of Christ. My philosophy, which I will further describe later in this article, is grounded and routed in the teaching of Christ that reveals to us that if we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, all the amenities of life will be added to life's equation.
How and when did you get started in fashion and design?
Fashion, if not high fashion, has always been a part of my life. As a child in Juvenile Hall in my country, I learned to design and sow men's clothes. The gamut of attires I designed in school ranged from dress shirts to tuxedos, from suits to casual suits, etc. While I did not continue in the fashion industry during my first 31 years in the U.S., I have always been fascinated with high fashion for men and women.
However, my re-emergence in the fashion industry came about two years ago while we were living in the Inland Empire, Riverside, California. My wife wanted to change her church wardrobe, and we agreed that she would purchase at least a dozen nice outfits. To my surprise, she came home with only two suits, having gone with her best friend from clothing store to clothing store between Corona and Cabazon. When I asked her about her shopping spree, she told me she had been unable to find any clothing store that sells the type of fashionable clothes appropriate for church services.. I decided to go with her to the Los Angeles-Beverly Hills area looking for clothes. We came across some nice coordinating outfits that included matching hats, purses and shoes. We purchased about 20 such outfits for her and traveled back home that day with the intent of establishing a clothing store as an alternative to going shopping in LA Garment District.
The next service, the membership of our church collectively was very impressed with the quality of the clothes we had purchased. By popular demand, they wanted to purchase some of the same type of clothes. Then came the obsession to start a boutique in Riverside selling designer suits and accessories for men and women. After much thought and fervent prayer, we decided to open Designer Suit Universe in November 2005.
What do you think is important for other Immigrants to understand?
While the U.S. is truly still the land of opportunities, doing business in this country has its unique challenges. Among them is the necessity for immigrants to lay aside the ways and practices of their respective countries to embrace the business culture, the business modus operandi, the way of doing business in the U.S.A.
How difficult was it for you while starting out?
The socio-cultural shock of immigrating into the U.S. in itself poses a tremendous challenge. However, the business cultural shock may even be a much greater challenge to overcome. Overcoming the challenge of selecting a viable product, finding a suitable location, securing financing, establishing credit, marketing a business, advertising and competing in a new environment are some of the greatest obstacles to immigrants in this country.
To succeed in an environment, where 60 percent of all businesses fail within three to five years, is no joking matter. It requires more faith, more perseverance and many more hours on the job than your competitors. Moreover, you must have the tenacity never to take no for an answer. In spite of all these obstacles, I certainly believe that immigrants can still, and will succeed in business, in this country if they are willing and ready to work harder than their similarly situated competitors. As I often say, if you try to succeed and fail, you may in part blame society for your failure. But if you do not try hard enough to succeed, you have no one to blame but yourself.
How did you overcome these challenges?
My unfailing trust in God and in His word, the spiritual support of the Body of Christ (the church I was attending) and the faith that God has given me to persevere even in difficult times…helped me overcome the challenges of life in a new country.
Where do you see the future taking you?
The future is taking me to greater challenges, greater faith and greater blessings than those of the past. My future is as bright as the promises of God for my life and my pastoral ministry. The word of God reassures me that God's thoughts toward me are the thoughts of peace, and not evil, that I may have an expected end: a bright future. Therefore, I look forward to God to give me grace and mercy to face the future with hope, faith and great expectations to perfect His plan for my life.
What is your greatest achievement so far?
My greatest achievement so far is the ability that God has given me to make a great impression, a positive impact upon and a lasting change in the life of the people under my pastoral care and the many people with whom I come in contact on any given day.
Tips you'd like to give others in the business?
Seek first the Kingdom of God, the furtherance of His church on earth, and His Righteousness, which is His philosophy, His modus operandi-the right way of doing things, not only in business but also in every area of life.
Our store provides a real ambiance and an exciting shopping experience for people who are looking for designer clothes at competitive prices.

Located in Riverside, the heart of the Inland Empire, Designer Suit Universe carries one of the largest selections of designer suits and accessories, including coordinating hats, purses, shoes and jewelry, for men and women in the Inland Empire.
Our motto is the best quality for the most reasonable price. Our customer service is the best in the clothing industry, in that it is grounded in the Judeo-Christian principle of treating others as you would have them treat you. Several brands, including Biani ™ of Italy and Jean Louis ™ of France, are being designed and manufactured by Identity, Inc., our wholesale division, in Los Angeles. You may contact Designer Suit Universe directly at (951) 897-1691 or via our web site at www.designersuituniverse.com.