Meet Johanne Pradel Wilson: Queen of Ideas

We had the good fortune of connecting with Johanne Pradel Wilson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Johanne, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
For about 13 years I worked for one of the world’s largest branding agencies in New York and then in Florida when I moved there. I knew it was time for me to start my own studio when my mother got sick and I couldn’t be with her because my job insisted I stay at work. It was at that point that realized how important freedom was to me and I wanted to create something I could leave behind to my children that could be theirs. COOL stands for “Create Out Of Love” and I started the business with my husband. Together we’ve built this design studio and fashion brand with love for each other and our craft along with good old-fashioned hard work. 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I was not on a path to be an artist. I remember sitting in the back of my AP History class watching a girl, Lauren Clayton, sketching and somehow we got to talking. I learned that there was a pretty good art department at my high school. I would spend my all my free time in the department drawing and sitting in on classes I was not even registered to be in. Something in me wanted to learn and because I just knew in my heart that my destiny was tied to whatever this was. I am a strong believer in God so I’m pretty sure it was his spirit that led me. The teachers in the department started to notice my enthusiasm so they took me under their wing and pushed me as far as I was willing… and I was willing to go all the way with this. I sat in on a college recruiter’s presentation from MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art) and I decided this was where I was going to go to college, but I didn’t have the qualifications. So I worked my butt off to get them. It wasn’t easy, but when you’re powered by something beyond yourself; impossible becomes possible and there are no limits, but the ones you place on yourself. Our brand is about celebrating people who were larger than themselves, that scarified their own comfort so that others could just live, be inspired, be their greatest selves, support their families and love themselves. Our brand is about drawing energy from something greater. That’s the power of doing anything “out of love.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of my favorite places (before the pandemic) in the city are the Citadel food hall and rooftop bar with live music, Wynwood Diner on a Friday night, Red Rooster in Overtown (which is set to reopen Dec. 3rd), Magic City’s digital arts park created by Guy Laliberté of Cirque du Soleil. We’d shop at House of Findings at Buena Vista Place, Design District or some street vendor in Wynwood. We’d definitely walk around Wynwood because you just have to do that when in Miami. We’d do a day in Fort Lauderdale and hit up the Sistrunk Marketplace, get coffee at C1 Studios in Fat Village and probably do some water sports in Fort Lauderdale beach. In the mornings we’d do beach or rooftop yoga at Soho House and attend an art talk or event there. On a Friday we’d head out to the Redlands and spend the day picking strawberries and easting ice cream at Knaus Berry Farm, sampling wines at Schnebly’s Winery, forest bathing at Patch of Heaven Sanctuary and getting a bite at this amazing hole-in-the-wall taqueria I found along one of the roads near Patch of Heaven.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to start by giving a shout out to the women in my life who have raised and shaped me to be an independent, thinking woman who can do anything with God’s help: my mom Anne Franck, aunt Madeleine, mum Angie Hunt, aunt Rosemarie Fequire, grandmother Grannie Fequiere and godmother Venise Fequire. My go-getter crew, supporters and overall “what if we…” tribe include: my husband Terrance Wilson, Dominique Moore, Shai Reimers, Aurelia Edwards, Lydia & David Osborne, Norma Jules, Paulina & David Naranjo, Joshua Pradel, Jean & Rosie Pradel and Kyshanna Guzman. Shout out to my mentor and his network ICABA, Jerome Hutchinson, Janene & Courtney McBath of Calvary Revival Church. Shout out to “Rapsody” Marlanna Evans and Fabrice Vil, Vladimir Franck, Anne Isabel Franck and Marguencie Bernard (my cousins) for always shouting me out and showing up. My dad, Rosemond Pradel, for teaching me about what it looks like to have thick skin in a world that doesn’t care about your excuses, painful situations or setbacks. For anyone else not mentioned… thank you.

Website: http://shopcoolcreative.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/coolcreativeinc
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanne/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/coolcreativeinc
Facebook: http://facebook.com/shopcoolcreative
Other: Please visit our retail shop: 300 NE 62nd street, Miami, FL 33138

Image Credits
Valencia Wilson Rashaud Michel BET Networks