TAMPA, FL — When Tampa artist Jounte Armantrading ran out of money — and space — for canvases while attending college, she improvised.
Living in a 300-square-foot apartment in Miami with her boyfriend and cat at the time, the lifelong painter had little room to work in and began transforming thrifted clothing into wearable works of art to save space.
"I was also running out of money for buying big canvases; they were so expensive. So, I started painting on my clothing and wearing it to school as a way to practice and try new things, " Armantrading told Patch. "People liked it and started asking me to make them one."
What began as a more affordable alternative to traditional art supplies has quickly grown into The Sonder Atelier, her full-time wearable art business.
On Saturday, Armantrading will present her first-ever fashion show at FloridaRAMA in St. Petersburg from 8 to 10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online here or at the door the day of the event.
The immersive runway experience will feature one-of-a-kind vintage garments hand-painted with Armantrading's signature whimsical female figures, each designed around a collection inspired by the true meaning of princesses throughout history.
"I started doing research on queens and princesses who existed throughout history," she said. "I noticed a common trait that they all stood up for their communities and their people."
Rather than embracing the stereotype that "princess" is synonymous with spoiled or pampered, Armantrading hopes to reclaim the word.
"A princess isn't silent," she said. "A princess is outspoken. She speaks about what matters. She helps. She puts herself in action."
While studying art, she also became interested in how women of color are often portrayed as strong, stoic or masculine in popular culture, even when those depictions don't reflect their personalities.
"So, I make this for the hyper-feminine girls who don't see themselves in paintings and imagery of super-girly things," she said. "If you want to feel girly, you should feel girly, regardless of your ethnicity or what you look like."
Originally from New Jersey, Armantrading moved to Florida as a teenager and graduated from Sickles High School before pursuing several different educational paths. She initially planned to become a doctor, later studied animation, and eventually switched to architecture before realizing art was always her true calling.
"I went through every single type of career," she said. "My heart knew what it wanted to do."
She officially launched The Sonder Atelier in February 2025, first selling her work online and finding unexpected success through live sales on the Whatnot app.
Her first livestream sold 40 pieces in about an hour — enough to convince her she could pursue the business full time.
Today, Armantrading carefully sources vintage garments from different fashion eras, her favorites being slips from the 1960s and fun pieces from the early 1990s, before transforming them into wearable canvases. She intentionally avoids painting on garments made before 1940, preferring to preserve those as pieces of fashion history.
She believes FloridaRAMA's colorful, immersive environment makes the perfect setting for her runway debut.
"There couldn't have been a better space for it," she said.
Every piece featured in Saturday's show will be available for purchase. Guests will receive a program with QR codes allowing them to browse sizes, measurements and purchase information for each garment.
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