Meet Jaden, founder of SlaydenCrochets
When Jaden Wilson saw her friend crocheting last year, her curiosity peaked and she instantly wanted to learn.
After being shown how to crochet, Wilson tried a few stitches herself. Later she went home and ordered a crochet kit from Amazon. “Ever since then I’ve been obsessed,” she said.
It’s been a year since she started and her favorite part about crocheting is her ability to make everything she imagines. “In the summer I said ‘I would love a cute little top to wear’ and I just made it in a day,” Wilson said. The top was not only in the exact design she wanted but also in her exact measurements.
In October, she crocheted herself a Shrek-themed hat for a party that was inspired by the movie. Wilson did not have anything else to wear so she turned to her hook and yarn.
The ease and enjoyment of crocheting her clothes beat shopping for hours and waiting for items to ship to her. “I feel like it opened a different world to me knowing I can make things myself,” she said.
The possibilities are endless with crocheting, as styles can range from fun and colorful to more elaborate, monochromatic pieces. Wilson’s items can be worn anywhere and in every season.
What started as a fun hobby for Wilson turned into a lucrative business. She started taking customers just seven months after learning, and her clientele has been steady ever since. “I realized I was getting good at it because everyone started telling me I should start selling it,” she said. With the mounting costs of graduate school, her business helped to alleviate some of the financial burden.
Looking and feeling your best is more important than ever, especially in the age of fast fashion. Even still, people are curious about where their clothes come from, what materials are used, and the process in which they are made.
Wilson urged people to be skeptical of ordering crochet pieces from big businesses. Crochet items take several hours to make and cheaply priced items are a result of people being severely underpaid for making them. “If you’re going to buy crochet items, try buying them from local crocheters and people who you know crochet it themselves,” she said.
She crafts each item according to the client’s desired size, style, and color(s). The pieces she crochets can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days. Her trademark item, the Slayden Starbag takes six hours or less to make, depending on how many colors or charms the client wants on the bag.
“Everything I crochet is crocheted with love and care, and a lot of time goes into it,” she said. To view her work and place orders, visit her Instagram account, @slaydencrochets. 
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