Daily Inspiration: Meet Juliana Rabban

Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliana Rabban.

Hi Juliana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Just by Juliana started in my bedroom during the 2020 lockdown, in the middle of my senior year of high school. I grabbed a pair of my brother’s old shoes and painted his favorite superhero on them because I was bored out of my mind. I filmed a quick video and posted it to TikTok and it ended up going viral, with over 1.8 million views. It was completely unexpected, but that moment sparked everything.

Almost overnight, people began reaching out for custom work. What started as a creative outlet quickly turned into a full-blown business. I’ve always been artistic, but that experience showed me I could actually build something of my own, and I did, from the ground up.

But the truth is, creativity has always been a part of who I am. When I was in second grade, I was obsessed with making boondoggle keychains. My dad owned a Save A Lot grocery store at the time, and one day he asked, “Do you want to sell some up front?” I said yes — and to my surprise, people actually bought them. He’d come home with custom order requests from customers, and I ended up making a couple thousand dollars as a little kid. That moment lit something in me. I even made pink cancer ribbon keychains in October and donated the proceeds to local charities. It wasn’t just about the money — it was about making things that meant something. That mindset never left.

Michaels was my candy store, growing up. I wanted to try every craft I could get my hands on — from polymer clay to scrapbooking to crocheting (yes, I was totally that kid getting called a grandma, and I will have you know my grandma even asked for lessons). I didn’t know it at the time, but all of those little hobbies were early sparks of the creative path I’d one day take seriously. My official business journey didn’t begin until 2020, but the passion had always been there.

Since launching, I’ve grown Just by Juliana into a full-time art and lifestyle brand. What started with custom sneakers expanded into murals, apparel drops, canvases and whatever else is thrown my way. Over the past five years, I’ve had the chance to work with some of the most recognizable names in sports — including the Detroit Pistons, Detroit Tigers, and the NFL Draft. Being able to represent my city, my culture, and my style through those projects has been one of the most validating parts of my journey.

I also launched a sub-brand called DV8 collection which is a mindset-driven streetwear collection built around perspective, self-worth, and giving back. The entire mission is to uplift others, encourage emotional authenticity, and use fashion as a tool for impact.

Another part of what drives me is my roots. Hearing stories about how my dad’s family came to this country with nothing and built a life through grit and sacrifice shaped how I approach everything. That “nothing is handed to you” mindset has stuck with me. This brand was built with intention, determination, and a whole lot of love that has backed me throughout my entire life.

I went on to study at the College for Creative Studies, where I majored in advertising with a minor in communication design and another minor in creative entrepreneurship. That education gave me the tools to think strategically while still creating from the heart — and I’ve used those skills to shape everything from pitch decks, to marketing.

At the core of Just by Juliana is connection. I stay active in the community by vending at Detroit-based events, supporting local creatives, and building real relationships through my work. I treat everyone equally — whether you’re a celebrity or someone discovering my art for the first time. I just love meeting people and using my creativity to uplift and inspire.

I’ve proven that a young, self-taught artist from Michigan can turn passion into a full time lifestyle and brand, and this is only the beginning.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
While building Just by Juliana has been an incredibly rewarding journey, it hasn’t come without real challenges — both internal and external.

For starters, I’m completely self-taught. I didn’t have a mentor showing me how to price work, pitch to clients, file taxes, or scale a brand. Every step, from designing my first product to setting up systems behind the scenes, was learned through trial, error, and a lot of late nights. I never worked a traditional 9-to-5, which meant there was no safety net, no structure, it’s just me showing up every day and figuring it out as I go.

One of the most difficult personal challenges I’ve had to face is developing carpel tunnel. As an artist, everything I do relies heavily on my hands — painting, drawing, editing, packing orders. When your entire career is rooted in movement and detail, it’s hard to accept that your body needs rest. That’s actually one of the main reasons I decided to start designing clothing. It gave me a creative outlet where I could still express myself and build my brand, but in a way that allowed me to give my hands a break. That shift also opened up new doors, helping me scale the business and reach a broader audience.

I’ve also had to be very intentional about how I navigate spaces that are often male-dominated — like streetwear, sneaker culture, and even mural work. Instead of waiting to be taken seriously, I’ve learned to walk into every room as a strong, confident woman, ready to own my space. I don’t give people the opportunity to underestimate me, ever. I lead with clarity, creativity, and purpose. I’ve worked hard to build a brand and presence that speaks for itself, and that makes space for other women and creatives to do the same.

And on a personal level, I’ve also had to battle perfectionism, especially during school when I was trying to balance being a full-time student and a full-time business owner at the same time. I’ve always been a perfectionist. I had this mindset that I could do everything, and to be honest, I still can — but now that my brand has grown, I’m realizing that doing everything doesn’t mean I should. To take things to the next level, I need to start delegating. I’m at the point where I’m looking to start hiring help, especially for the areas that aren’t directly tied to my art. It isn’t just a smart move, it’s necessary. It’s about protecting my creativity, scaling with intention, and giving myself the space to lead instead of just manage.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Everything I make starts with one goal: to make you do a double take. Whether it’s a pair of sneakers, a mural, or a hoodie, I want people to stop, look again, and think, “Wait… what’s going on here?” — then start catching all the hidden details layered inside.

I’ve always been into what I call doodle collaging which is ultimately overlapping objects, patterns, or ideas until they form a full picture or look like they’re spilling out of something. When I was younger, I was obsessed with Kristina Webb. She was the first (and maybe only) artist I fully fan-girled over because her ideas were so wild and creative. She’s the reason I got hooked on the collage-style vibe, and that playful, layered energy still shows up in everything I do.

My go-to medium is acrylic paint, especially for sneakers, canvases, and large-scale murals… but lately I’ve found myself wanting to explore and expand my horizons and I’ve been leaning into spray paint a bit more. It brings in movement, grit, and that raw edge I love. I’m all about mixing sharp lines with messy ones, realism with cartoons, loud with minimal. If it makes you stare, I’m into it.

On the digital side, I use Procreate and Illustrator almost daily for apparel mockups, branding, packaging, and content. I also use them to digitize my original paintings and turn them into limited edition clothing drops, so people can literally wear my art. Being able to jump between digital and physical keeps every piece hands-on and true to my vision.

In the past few years, my work’s popped up everywhere from local businesses to professional sports teams. I’ve also dropped collections like DV8 — a mindset-based streetwear line that blends clean design with perspective and purpose. Whether it’s a wall or a hoodie, I just like making things that look cool and stand out.

Everything I create is meant to connect, reflect culture, and make people pause, because that’s where I feel most alive creatively.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
If there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s that growth doesn’t come from getting it perfect, it comes from showing up. Every stage of building Just by Juliana has come with new lessons, and I’ve grown just as much personally as I have professionally.

1. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that you don’t have to do everything alone (even though I still do the majority… I’m working on it… oops). For most of my journey, I wore every hat imaginable: artist, designer, packer, marketer, accountant, therapist (to myself), you name it. I did it all because I could, and because I wanted every piece of my brand to reflect my exact vision.

But as Just by Juliana has grown, I’ve come to a hard but freeing truth: doing everything yourself doesn’t make you stronger, it makes you stretched. And delegating doesn’t take away from your voice, it protects it. It allows your creative energy to flow where it’s needed most, instead of getting buried under spreadsheets or shipping labels.

I’m learning now that leadership isn’t about doing it all, it’s about building something that can thrive with or without your hands on every single detail. That’s not easy when you’re used to being a one-woman show, but it’s necessary. I’m finally realizing that asking for help isn’t a weakness, it’s a strategy. And it’s one that’s going to allow me to scale with more intention, more creativity, and (hopefully, key word… HOPEFULLY) a little more sleep.

2. I’ve also learned that authenticity will always take you further than following trends. The projects and clients I’m most proud of came from staying true to my voice and trusting my instincts — not trying to fit into a mold. People connect to what’s real, and that’s what builds lasting relationships and brand loyalty.

3. Another key lesson: consistency beats motivation every time. There were moments I didn’t feel inspired or confident, but I kept showing up. That discipline built momentum. It’s what helped me go from painting shoes in my basement to designing for the Detroit Pistons.

4. And maybe most importantly, I’ve learned that being an artist is about more than just creating. If you want to pursue art full time, you have to think like a business owner too. Creativity is the foundation, but understanding strategy, pricing, branding, and boundaries is what allows you to scale and sustain it. You have to protect your value — because for some reason, people often think they can take advantage of artists. But you can’t let them. Knowing your worth and communicating it clearly is what sets the tone for how others treat you and your work.

There’s still so much I’m learning. But what I know for sure is that this path, the ups, the pivots, the growth, has shaped me into not just a better creative, but a better leader, collaborator, and human.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.justbyjuliana.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justbyjuliana/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@justbyjuliana