About Us

Lahjae White-Patterson, Founder and CEO of Golden Deer Designs

 

Golden Deer Designs was founded in 2022 when Lahjae White-Patterson was invited to join the Budding Black Incubator program by Girls For A Change (GFAC). Through this program, she gained valuable insights into entrepreneurship and what it takes to run a business.

At the time, Lahjae was in her third year of college, pursuing a degree in Creative Technologies with a concentration in 2D Animation. Although animation had been her passion since childhood, breaking into the industry was a challenge. This uncertainty led her to explore an alternative path—building a business where her art could take center stage.

Golden Deer Designs was created to fill a gap in the market: a lack of diverse representation in character-based apparel. Specializing in graphic t-shirts, the brand uses illustration to celebrate Black women and girls, ensuring they see themselves reflected in wearable art. More than just a clothing brand, Golden Deer Designs is a statement—a movement toward inclusivity, individuality, and empowerment.

With each design, the brand seeks to inspire confidence and self-expression, proving that representation in fashion isn’t just important—it’s necessary. One design at a time.