Today’s Interview features the wonderful jewelry of Mija Jewelry. The collection is crafted from the finest quality gold, silver, gemstones, and pearls. The pieces are cast from original hand-carved wax sculptures and the gemstones are individually set by hand. MIJA is proud to bring you a line of timeless, delicate, handcrafted jewelry for babies, children, and women…
Hope you enjoy the behind the scenes….
What made you start this business – the major turning point?
The idea for the company came about when I was in London in 2006 visiting my older sister and her family. I had graduated from UCLA a year earlier with a bachelors in communication studies and had planned to follow in my older sister’s footsteps by working in film production (she runs/co-owns a large commercial production company in London). While I have always been a creative person, I had spent the better part of high school and college ignoring my creative passions and focusing on academics and grades. During the year after I graduated, I began to take on the hobby of jewelry making. So, when I went to London and saw my beautiful nieces, I was inspired to make them something I knew would make them feel like a princess. My sister had a broken pearl necklace. I took two pearls from it and made two little gold chain bracelets, each with a single pearl. My nieces and my sister immediately loved them. The girls slept with them and bathed with them and would not take them off. My sister had told me that she had looked everywhere (London, LA, NY) for jewelry for her little girls and she could not find anything worthwhile. All she could find was either solid gold and super expensive or extremely garish and cheesy. My sister was convinced that there was a huge demand for sweet, simple jewelry for girls that was made of precious metals, pearls & gemstones, but that did not cost a fortune. She convinced me that I should start a line of jewelry for little girls. So, the collection started as strictly a children’s line and has evolved into women’s as well. Now the women’s collection has taken off and I have also started designing a bridal collection (inspired by my own desires to have beautiful jewelry for my wedding…I’m newly engaged). The bridal collection was also inspired by so many women buying our jewelry (especially our earrings) for their weddings.
What inspires you?
I find my inspiration from everywhere! One of the pieces I am most excited about, which will be unveiled in our new spring/summer collection, was inspired by a tattoo on the back of a girl sitting at the bar in Sushi Ko in Glover Park! Somehow, that tattoo stuck in my head and ended up turning into a necklace design!
What is the best part about your job?
One of the best parts is that I am finally able to nurture my creative side. After ignoring it for so long during school, it is so great to be able to finally explore my artistic talents again. I also LOVE seeing people who are thrilled after buying a piece of jewelry that I designed. Seeing that smile on their faces is wonderful.
Whats the process?
I design the jewelry and it is all made overseas. It is actually quite an interesting process: It of course begins with an idea for a design (inspired from all sorts of things which I will get into later). I then draw and sketch the design using pencil and paper. I must specify every millimeter of the design: the exact dimensions of each part and what size gemstones or pearls are to be used, etc. We then go about gathering all the materials for the piece (chain, gemstones, etc). We buy gemstones from the US, India, Thailand, China, etc and then buy our chain and clasps from Italy. All the pieces are then gathered and shipped to China where they are all skillfully put together. Our metalsmiths usually work with gold and diamonds, so needless to say, they are extremely meticulous and careful with their work since they usually are working with such expensive materials. Our jewelry is actually all cast in sterling silver. Some pieces are also plated in 18k gold and then the precious & semi-precious gemstones and pearls are all hand-set.
Do you have an online shop?
Yes!! www.mijajewelry.com
Tell us a little about yourself, to get to know you more (where are you from …etc)
I grew up in the Bay Area in California in a little town called Orinda (right next to Berkeley). I went to college at UCLA and lived in both LA and San Francisco after I graduated. I knew that if I didn’t leave California in my early 20′s, then I would never leave and explore another part of the country. So, I moved to NY when I was starting my business. I don’t think I realized how difficult it is to start a business in NY (the cost of living and the cost of space is so extremely high!) At the time I was also dating someone who was living in DC. So, I would go back and forth between NY and DC and finally ended up settling in DC (with the man who is now my fiance). He too started his own company a few years ago (www.smathersandbranson.com) and I was blessed to be able to learn from him and his business partner about how to run a business. I am currently running the office, traveling for the business, and designing several new collections (which will launch in a few months)!
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No thank you Michelle, for sharing your beautiful talent with Glamour This! Be sure to check out the website for more lovelies.
If you would like to be featured in the Interview Series, simply give me a shout out via the contact page.
Posted by: Kelly | Glamour This! official blog of Blushink with 2 comments
I want some of those rings!! They are just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing this interview.
I love Mija jewelry.I have their dragonfly and bird necklace and I wear them a lot. I’m hoping to get the new earrings, they’re beautiful…