New Baton Rouge t-shirt company Southern Chill has more than 90 designs
There’s a new t-shirt company in town! I’m excited today to introduce you to Southern Chill — and the family behind the brand.
As a Baton Rouge company of course they have LSU game day tees for us, but their entire collection includes a variety of over 90 designs all embracing the lifestyle of the South.
Southern Chill was created in late 2019 (yep, right before Covid) by sisters Angela Leonard and Susan Windham and their mom Danni Shobe.
Danni is an award-winning artist here in Baton Rouge known for her acrylic canvas paintings (and specifically her favorite subject: Koi fish).
With everyone having their own careers already, I asked them how they got into the t-shirt business together.
Danni joked that her daughters sat her down one day and said they were going to start a company and she was their artist… and there may have been some wine involved.
“But really her art is amazing,” Susan said. “The company started with the idea that we have this amazing artist and she sees things fun and quirky.”
When a new design idea comes up, they start with the concept, then Danni does her research. She sketches everything out on paper. They all collaborate to add to the design, then they decide on colors.
“It’s a full process,” Danni said. “I have to go hide some place and get out of my real life.”
Her daughters say they often send her to the beach so she can get inspired and crank out new designs.
“But it really is something we can do together and enjoy,” Danni said.
The sisters say the brand of Southern Chill is a feeling - and that has a lot to do with connecting and being close to family.
Both Angela and Susan moved out of state for their careers, but now they all live in Louisiana again.
“The South is strong in family,” Susan said. “We both had big careers elsewhere and wanted to be back here and raise our families together. You realize there are things you take for granted when you move away.”
Susan says Southern Chill is a thing you feel — and having lived elsewhere she didn’t get that same feeling.
Both Susan and Angela’s kids are also very involved in the company as well.
“We listen to their opinions,” Susan said. “We watch how they interact and what’s engaging to them.”
One of their first designs was a mud truck inspired by Susan’s sons riding around in big muddy fields.
“A lot of our designs trigger memories and fun things,” Angela said.
Some of their other designs include boats, sports, fish, lakes and crawfish.
But they also have a many seasonal tees for Mardi Gras, Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day and Fourth of July.
They have several LSU designs, but they didn’t stop their college designs there. In fact, they have the entire SEC covered — and more.
Some of their favorite designs are the Georgia Bulldog and Ole Miss Landshark.
“We try to be different than what’s out there,” Danni said. “We like a quirkier look, and I have fun with them.”
You can shop all Southern Chill Tees on their website and locally in store at both Royal Standards and Harper’s Haberdashery.
They’re also at Studio Too Boutique in Port Allen and Bayou Belle in Denham Springs.
Shop Our Tees: Roar Classic Tee | Let Freedom Soar Tee | Zen Too Tee | Tiger Claws Tee | Red Solo Cup Tee
Today’s post was sponsored by Southern Chill. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Southern Flair!
