From job loss to faith-inspired fashion

For Lorelei Martins, faith isn't something to keep quiet about. It's something to wear proudly, share openly, and now, turn into a business.

Through Pardon My Faith, a faith-inspired clothing brand she launched from her St. George home, Martins combines original artwork and biblical messages to create apparel that encourages people to express their faith openly.

“I am a believer. I'm going to speak it. I'm going to live it. I'm going to share it, and I can promise you, I am not apologetic about it either,” Martins told St. George News.

She said the name Pardon My Faith plays on the familiar expression “Pardon my French,” nodding to Martins' French heritage and her belief that people shouldn't have to apologize for expressing what they believe.

Born and raised in France, Martins moved to the United States at 23 after visiting the country as a teenager and deciding she wanted to build a life there. She initially settled in California, where she pursued professional dance and worked in hospitality before moving to Las Vegas.

After several personal and professional transitions, Martins relocated to St. George in 2022 with her son, Hayden.

Martins said her relationship with Christianity evolved throughout those years. Although she wasn't raised in a religious household, she found her faith through dance after attending a Christian event in California. She later became involved in dance ministry, using movement to share the gospel.

After settling in Southern Utah, she began looking for a church where she could reconnect with her faith. She eventually found Hilltop, where she said she felt called to become more involved in ministry and use her talents differently.

Martins' path to entrepreneurship began after she lost her job as a web developer for a luxury real estate company. She said she had worked in the industry for nearly four years and had recently been promoted when she learned she was being let go on the first day of a vacation to France with her son.

She had occasionally used TikTok Live to connect with followers and earn money through virtual gifts. After losing her job, she began livestreaming more consistently, sometimes for several hours a day.

The income helped cover her bills while she searched for another job. Eventually, she began looking for ways to turn her social media following into a business.

In March, she launched Croissant Queen, a clothing line inspired by her TikTok persona. The initial collection included workout apparel, tank tops and shirts featuring her image. She designed the products but relied on a dropshipping company to handle production and fulfillment, she said.

As her faith became a bigger part of her daily life, however, Martins said she began questioning whether the business reflected the direction she wanted her life to take.

She spent more time studying the Bible and creating short videos that explained scripture in an accessible way. Her “Bible in Two Minutes” series breaks down biblical passages into shorter, easier-to-understand lessons.

She also began making humorous videos to show that faith and humor can coexist.

“I wanted people to grasp the concept that you can be godly and funny,” Martins said. “And I wanted to encourage curiosity about the Bible.”

She said Romans 1:16, which speaks about not being ashamed of the gospel, became central to her approach.

“If this is gonna be my life, it's gonna be my life on every single platform,” Martins said.

That same philosophy became the foundation for Pardon My Faith.

The clothing designs grew out of her own Bible study and worship. Rather than using generic religious graphics, Martins began creating original artwork inspired by biblical stories and scripture.

Some designs reference the parable of the lost sheep, while others feature messages such as “Be Bold as a Lion.” Another design, “New Creation,” references 2 Corinthians 5:17 and represents the transformation that comes with becoming a new person through faith.

Martins uses graphic design software, including Photoshop, to create the artwork before preparing it for printing.

“I want you guys to understand that these are my designs,” she said. “You're never going to find that anywhere else.”

At first, she bought a heat press and continued working with an outside company to print her designs on direct-to-film material. The printed designs arrived on large rolls, which she would cut and apply to clothing herself.

But as orders and ideas developed, she wanted more control over production and the ability to fulfill custom requests without waiting for outside suppliers. She first invested approximately $3,000 in a printing machine, but repeated mechanical problems and lengthy troubleshooting eventually led her to seek a refund, she said.

She then made a much larger investment, reportedly spending approximately $9,000 of her savings on a more advanced automatic printing machine.

The machine automates several steps of the direct-to-film printing process, including applying and curing the adhesive powder used to transfer designs onto fabric. Martins can then cut the designs and use a heat press to apply them to shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies and bags.

Martins described the investment as a huge leap of faith, but one that gives her greater control over production. By printing designs herself, she can eliminate delays from outside suppliers and fulfill custom orders more quickly.

“This business is more than just creating clothing,” she said. “I want these designs to serve as conversation starters and provide opportunities to share the gospel. I feel called to do this.”

She has begun introducing Pardon My Faith to the Southern Utah community through local markets, including the Tuacahn Saturday Market, the Sunday Fun Day Market and the Washington Farmers Market.

Martins said participating in local markets has brought a mix of challenges and encouragement. At one particularly windy event, strong gusts knocked over displays and damaged some of her inventory, leaving her discouraged and questioning whether she was on the right path. But she said positive interactions with customers have continued to remind her why she started the business and encourage her to keep going.

At a Southern Utah Sunday Fun Day market, she said she noticed a young boy walking with his grandmother stop at her booth after spotting one of her children's designs. The shirt was too large, but the boy insisted he wanted it anyway.

“He's like, 'I will grow into it,'” Martins said. “It was the sweetest thing.”

Another young customer at the Washington Farmers Market returned to Martins' booth later that day with money she had saved to purchase a shirt.

She also recalled meeting two women who asked to pray for her and her business. During the conversation, one of the women asked about her electricity bill and offered to pay it. Later, the woman sent Martins about $250 to help cover the expense.

The encounter eventually led to another unexpected opportunity. Martins discovered the woman owned Molly B's Cookies and created a humorous social media video reviewing the company's products. The video gained significant attention, and the company's marketing team later contacted her about using it in an advertisement.

For Martins, the experience was another example of how unexpected relationships and opportunities can grow out of her business. She said seeing customers connect with the meaning behind her designs is often more rewarding than making a sale.

As she works to grow Pardon My Faith, Martins continues balancing entrepreneurship, creating social media content, raising her son and serving at her church. She has stepped away from the TikTok livestreaming that once provided her income, choosing instead to focus on ministry-related content and building the clothing brand.

Her goal is to create apparel people genuinely enjoy wearing while giving them an opportunity to share what they believe.

Find Pardon My Faith in person each Saturday at the Washington Farmers Market, located at the Veterans Park, 75 E. Telegraph St. in Washington City. Martins will also have a booth at the upcoming Mod Market on Nov. 14 at Vernon Worthen Park in St. George, and at the Cedar City Christmas Market on Nov. 28.

To learn more about Pardon My Faith, browse apparel and place orders, visit pardonmyfaith.co. Follow Pardon My Faith on Instagram @pardonmyfaithcl and TikTok @thecroissantqueen for new designs, product updates and faith-inspired content.