In this lifetime, Jill Johnson has lived many lives. An ageless woman, she's a classically trained ballerina, mixed media artist, clothing designer, retail entrepreneur, and vintage beach goddess. Jill founded one of the most popular stores in the Funk Zone, Loveworn. She’s hit the point of her career where she’s dressed two generations with her iconic Bunny Jackson dress sewn from vintage fabrics. The Bunny Jackson dress became a local cult classic in the 90s with Jill's first store, True Grit, on State Street.
Jill’s expertise in the fundamentals of pattern making and design opened up opportunities early in her career to be a trusted buyer of the most eponymous brands coming out of LA. One of the original vintage huntresses, she gained connections to treasure troves of vintage fabrics and Levi's jeans. She started sewing her own pieces, creating one-of-a-kind wearable art, and her popularity grew.
Always on the lookout for the next big thing, Jill was drawn into an innovative project in the early 2000s. As the internet was gaining popularity for online shopping, she was part of a platform that allowed designers to sell their fashion directly to consumers. At a time when designers believed consumers would only buy after touching and trying on clothes, Jill's endeavor revolutionized shopping, enabling consumers to establish a direct relationship with their favorite designers.
Now, seven years in the Funk Zone space she shares with artist and longtime collaborator Wallace Piatt, the Loveworn brand is Jill's homecoming and calling. Her silk-screened and custom-designed clothes continue to appeal to shoppers of all ages.
Jill sees a bright future ahead for Loveworn. Plans are in the works for more locations and scaling the e-commerce side that will bring this Santa Barbara brand to the masses.
Loveworn
Hand-silkscreened tees and sweatshirts, vintage Levi’s, couture cashmere, and the cutest mini dresses. Locally owned. Woman-owned. 11 Anacapa Street @lovewornsb