We had the good fortune of connecting with Shawn Gibbs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shawn, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’m a creative—always have been. I’ve had a bunch of side hustles over the years, but as you grow, it just makes sense to level up and start your own thing. I’m in tech sales, and I’m good at it—I can sell water to a well. If I can help corporate America pull in millions every year (that’s literally my quota), then why not put that same energy into building and pushing my own product?

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What makes my brand stand out is that even though I’m a small business, I think and move like I’m Louis Vuitton or Goyard. I pay attention to the details that matter—packaging, signature ribbons, all the little touches. My designs come from what I grew up on and the brands I’ve invested in over the years, like Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, and Goyard. It’s a mix of all of that, but I’m doing it solo—like I’ve got a whole team behind me, but it’s just me putting in the work.

Was it easy? not at all. In the first year, we sold over 700 wallets, made the Chicago news, sponsored influencer events, partnered with the NTWRK app, and even sponsored gifts for the NAACP Image Awards on BET which in fact we will be partnering with the production team again this year in Feb. It was a grind to make all that happen, but God kept opening doors for me, and I’m super grateful.

Noir Sainte is a lifestyle brand that has a strong emphasis on lifestyle elements and accessories such as cardholders and money clips. In 2024, we switched up the name from Noir Atelier to Noir Sainte. The new name? That’s inspired by my son, Ocean Sainte Gibbs

I’m thrilled to announce a special partnership with artisan hand-painter Jasmine Qu, who will bring her incredible talent to our monogram and hand-painted wallet designs. I’m so excited to welcome her to the team!

Our second capsule, Paris à Tokyo ノワール・サント, drops 1/31/25. It’s a blend of three cities—Paris, Chicago, and Tokyo—brought together through design and culture.

Now that I’m based in California, I’m ready to take things even further— in LA, San Francisco, San Diego, and beyond. This is just the beginning.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was in town, we’d have to do it right. I’m into art, so first stop would be The Broad Museum downtown. You gotta check out the Jeff Koons pieces and experience the Infinity Mirrors by Yayoi Kusama—both are crazy!

For dinner, we’d hit up The Penthouse restaurant in Santa Monica. The ocean views are next level, and you gotta order an espresso martini but swap the vodka for reposado tequila—trust me on that one. And who knows, maybe they’ll even have one of my wallets for rich picture!

LA’s got way too much to do for just one trip, though. We’d hit the beaches, maybe Venice or Malibu, vibe out in West Hollywood for some nightlife, and explore spots like the Getty or Griffith Observatory. There’s always something good going on and you need a few days to really soak it all in.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
For sure, my other half Endira and my son Ocean—they’ve been my rock with all the love and encouragement. Big shoutout to my extended family in Southern Cali, too. On top of that, I’ve been deep into studying Virgil Abloh’s moves—his old interviews, press write-ups, and books. If you don’t know, Virgil was a legend. He was the first Black artistic director at Louis Vuitton and the founder of Off-White. Dude mixed streetwear, luxury, art, music, and architecture like no one else. He flipped the game, sampling ideas like hip-hop does with music. This was my “Virgil year”—just like how he went from Pyrex Vision to Off-White, I made that same transition with Noir Atelier to Noir Sainte. On a side note i actually got a chance to meet him in 2014.

Website: https://www.noirsainte.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noirsainte

Other: https://www.instagram.com/upscale.shawn

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