The Business of Joy: How Lana Platin Creates Magic Every Day

What starts as a creative spark can turn into something truly extraordinary and Lana Platin Creative is living proof.

In this episode, I sit down with the incredibly talented Lana Platin, the go-to for beautifully personalized, colorful, and unforgettable pieces including totes, denim, college gear, bachelorette swag, mitzvah must-haves, and more.

What sets her apart is thoughtful embroidery with messages of kindness, little reminders stitched into everyday pieces that spark connection, joy, and intention.

Lana has built a brand that is not just about beautiful design but about making people feel seen, celebrated, and special. So much of her inspiration comes from her angel mama, Sheila, a rockstar in her own right, whose love and spirit shine through in everything Lana creates.

The reason she is so successful is not just talent, it is the love in her heart. Every embroidered sweatshirt, bag, and gift carries a piece of her generosity, her joy, and her care. She is truly one of the kindest, most inspiring people I know. 🩷

Stick around until the end to hear more about where this remarkable woman gets her magic and fair warning, you will be singing her theme song all day! 🤩

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:06

Hi everyone, I'm Gilly, founder of Gilly's Organics and the host of Everyday Rock Stars. I'm in the studio of this incredible friend, this incredible rock star, Lana Playton of Lana Playton Creative. And look at it here. Lana, welcome. Thanks for having me. Oh my goodness, thanks for having me here. I've been watching you rock your business for a while. Take us back to the beginning, six years. So, six years ago during COVID, I started this business. I wanted to pivot from the interior design space I had been in for over 25 years, working for various showrooms, fabrics, furniture, wall covering, and just decided it was time for a change. And while everybody was doing puzzles and finding hobbies, I decided to create camps in my backyard. I was having girls, and I have two boys, as you know. Um, I was having girls come, we were doing jewelry making, we were doing paint and tape classes together, we were doing tie-dye. I then moved on to I was a vendor at Bar and Bot Mitzvah's, a bead bar during COVID, masks on and all. Um it's just it's been such a progression. Um, and then somebody said to me, I was supposed to take a class in New York City and learn how to hand embroider with a friend, but everything was shut down. So I went on to YouTube and I basically taught myself. Friends started bringing their sweatshirts and t-shirts and sweatpants, and I swore gilly I would never get involved again. But one thing led to another, and I started hand embroidering things. Oh my goodness, show us some of the things that you hand embroider. So this is this goes back to like one of the first. Um how pretty is this? Oh, the message too. A lot of my business and the idea around my business was really to create happy, joyful messages for people. Everyone was so locked up and in isolation, depending on. Kind of cranky and depressed, yeah. And I just felt like if I could make the world a better place, if I can change people's day by receiving a package, creating something special for them, then it would bring me so much gratitude. It's the best mission ever is to bring people happiness with your product, with your fashion and with your gifts. So is it mostly embroidery? Like, tell me, tell me what you sell from what I understand. Like to there's like a lot of products and thousands of orders on Etsy. So it's a very personalized business, like it's not for the masses. Um I love to work with people, with clients, and create together. It's really important to me uh to invoke like a long-lasting peace, something that they're going to wear for a long time and not just have it sit in their closet. So, yes, most of it is apparel, but I do a lot of accessories, I do a lot of personalization, I do a lot of group gifts. Um love it. I have an adorable tote. That was a huge one for me, right? Everybody loves that. So is it more about personalizing it? Is it more about college? Is it spinning ever evolving? Yeah, it's never about one thing. As long as it fits my brand, as long as it's happy, as long as it's sending a great message. I think that is so important. We are living in such a crazy world right now, and if I could just do my part to spark joy, make people happy with my creations. I mean, there's nothing better. I think that's what made it take off so well is that it was needed. You are super talented and really creative and colorful, and it does bring joy, even your logo is happy, your models are happy, your products are amazing, your big everything it's about an experience. So from inception of the order to receipt of the order, I want a I want to like invoke a feeling and the way my things are packaged when they get it. It's it's very important to me how it's packaged, how it's wrapped, um, how it's how it's basically, I don't know what's the word, how it's received. Yeah. Um, so that you just answered it. We can just cut that right there. It's fine. That's the best. It's a full experience. It's an experience, and I want people to enjoy it. The ribbons, uh-huh, I feel that. Yes, um, the stickers, just the packaging. When you open like when you open that that mailbox, or when you see that package on your front stoop, you're excited to open it, and that's what I want it to be. I feel like one thing that's like missing for me, and you're inspiring me to make that package that much more exciting when you get it. Because it's like what's in it is awesome, but like it's the whole experience, and you're right, with you, yeah, you get that. Yes, you get that whole like the way it's ribbon, it's almost like you're doing it for your kid. You like you feel it. I put forth like my energy into every single order that goes out. That's awesome. Yeah, well, it shines through line. It does, it really does. Everything's so colorful and happy. I love it. Where do you get your inspiration? Well, a lot of different people. First and foremost, my mother. Um, she will always be with me. She has inspired me and continues to inspire me. She worked in the Garmin Center, she went back to work when I was 10, 11 years old. She broke the glass ceiling in the kidswear industry. She was a legend. And just her influence and her bright red hair and her personality, which lit up a room, got so many buyers to buy her things. She traveled the world and she just kept absolutely so you get a lot of inspiration from your beautiful mom. Yes. Tell me about her. So she's not here anymore, but um, she was a legend in the kidswear industry. We manufactured little girls' clothing and went back to work at 40. She really broke the um glass ceiling. She did. She's unbelievable, she was unbelievable, and she has just been my inspiration to keep creating and keep moving forward and continue to stay positive and spark joy. So she's in your back pocket all the time. Always. I love that so much. Sounds like um the rock started to fall far from the tree. Thank you. Um, I love that so much. Also making her proud. Oh, for sure. For sure. Where do you see yourself? Oh my god, that's in a year. Or you don't know, you just go in with the flow. Yes, it's ever-changing. Um, I like to give back. I usually give back to an organization every year. Amazing. Um, who knows? You know, it just keeps growing. I'm still here doing it, I'm enjoying it, I love it, and we'll see where it leads me. Something tells me you're gonna be doing it for a lot longer because everybody loves your work. Thank you. Your continued success. Thank you, Lana. What is on the horizon for Lana Playton Creative? So I think everyone loves something personalized. And my latest creation, I don't know if you've seen these boatkin type bags. They are a canvas bag, but now I'm putting a little twist on it with cording and initials and just kind of zhizing it up a little bit and making it very unique and personal to each person. I love that. Is that the bag that I have? That's actually not the bag that you have. It's right over there. There's one. Oh, that's amazing. We'll have to show that. Yes. Is that your best seller, the the one that I have? Yes, definitely. Because I remember that. Like you couldn't even like get it. I mean, it's amazing. It's still, it's a few years now, and people just love it. They're great for like girls' trips or birthday gifts, or you're going to somebody's house and you want to bring them a little housewarming. It's it's great. And it's personal. Bachelorette. I love it. And it's personal. And who doesn't love something personalized? Yeah. Means you took like the initiative and the extra step to get them something special. You also do a huge market for the college world, which is like right now, everyone's doing these bed parties. So yeah, that's super busy with all those. I am, and for the moms too, because they need swag. Yeah, for sure. So, you know, my things are very elevated. Sometimes they might be a little bit too sophisticated for the student, but the moms seem to love it too, and we have to represent. Yeah. Where do people buy your beautiful? So, for the most part, I think that they purchase through Instagram. I do have an Etsy shop. I am working on a website this year. Yay! So I'm very excited about that. I am really grassroots. Yeah, I am your typical. Didn't know if I could start this business, how it would grow, if it would grow, but I'm here to say that, like, if you work hard, give it a shot, try something new, get uncomfortable, get comfortable with the uncomfortable. I love that advice. Okay, so show us what these are. Sure. So this is my OG sweatshirt. Good vibes. This is really the beginning of the collection in COVID and still runs through. Everything is hand embroidered. Uh, we have to change the needle every time we embroider a letter. So it takes a long time. It does. How long does that take? An hour and a half, maybe two hours. Oh, yes. It's almost like knitting a needle point. And you want to make it to look very similar to the original for each person. Yes.

unknown 10:14

Oh.

SPEAKER_00 10:14

And I do a ton of custom work. My goodness. A client will give me a word or something that resonates, something that's meaningful. Like, for example, I had a client who was going through IVF and was having a real rough go at it. And she saw the sweatshirt and she was like, I'm wearing it to my IVF appointment. And it worked. It worked. And she let me know. So it's the things like this that keep me going. Yeah, it's not, it's not just a sweatshirt. Exactly. Exactly. It's got like love and inspiration in it. Look at that. Tons of college. Yeah. Love it. Really? That makes me want to be a gator and go back to college. That is really cool. I love what you do with this. The cording and the beading and the hand embroidery. It's just elevated and a little bit more unique. I love it. And then, you know, things for the kids, things for mom. I mean, I want this. This is the best bag for spring. You need this bag. But get your initials on it, right? Make it personal. You can bring it to Whole Foods. Get your bags. I think I need a Ghillies Organics, right? They come in all different colours. And I'm really excited about this. This is adorable. So this, and then there's that other tote which like fits so much. Yes. For the beach. Yeah. For the supermarket. Mm-hmm. Just because. Yeah. Throw your things in there and just type it. I keep it rolled up in my trunk. Amazing. And then, like, this must take how long does this take? I would say the same, like two hours. I don't know if you could see it says treat people with kindness on the tushy. I feel like I need these, but then you just have to make sure you tuck in your shirt. Yeah. People see it. And then see here, I'm wearing glove. Oh, I love these. Okay, so you spent a lot of time with the embroidery. Amazing. Yes. I love it. And now I have people that help me. Of course. Amazing. Because one person can't do it by themselves. That's right. What do you think keeps you in rock star mode every day? Wow, that's a hard question. Because if I'm being honest, right? Like we all have our ups and downs, and I have a family, and you know, not every day is unicorns and roses, but um I think it's important to like push through and create, and it keeps my head going. And I have to say, this is so important. The amount of other women-owned small businesses that I have met on Instagram and the relationships that we have created together, helping each other. I have the chills right now talking about it because you know, even some of them I've never met in real life, but we have helped each other significantly. And what's better than that? Nothing. It's the best. Because sometimes when you're working for yourself, entrepreneur life can get lonely. Absolutely. And I imagine 20 years ago when there wasn't a smartphone to connect with women, other business owners, you were like, you know, looking for that camaraderie which we have at our fingertips right now, which is so amazing. Absolutely. In fact, I've started and I've been a little inconsistent with it, but every Monday I try and spotlight another small business. Oh amazing! So that that's you know really important to me as well. Like I want to help other people grow. I want, you know, to grow together. And that's about I'm sure that that's part of your magic and your success, Lana. Is that your desire to make people happy, the creativity which is off the charts, and the talent, the skill. But it's that energy, it's that beautiful, selfless, giving energy. You're such an interesting thing. And that's you, that's you too. And thank you. It's so important, especially at our age, now that I'm an empty nester, um, to surround yourself with other like-minded individuals that that spark joy, that that are happy, that want to help each other, that and cheering you on, cheering that absolutely unabashedly cheering you on. Absolutely, hands down. And it's fun. It's fun, so fun. And I'm gonna keep doing it until it's not fun anymore. I love that. Okay, I mean, rock star. What would be let's say you were coming out to a big audience of people, you're being introduced for your incredible contributions with this awesome brand. What's the theme? What's your anthem song? I'm every woman. Yeah, I play it all the time, and yeah, it's old. What is it, 1980s? I'm every woman, shot a con. That's awesome. Great song. And I just want to have fun. Like, let's enjoy. I love this so much. Okay, we're we're cheering you on. Thank you. Your angel mama is cheering you on for sure. Thank you. And anyone here today, please follow along. Can you tell us how to follow on Instagram? Sure. It's at Lana Playton Creative and DM me, say hi. And on Etsy Tube. I'm on Lana Playton Creative. Yes, amazing. Check out her stuff. We're gonna show some pictures and yeah, follow along, this amazing rock star. Thank you so much. Oh my gosh, thank you.