Today we’d like to introduce you to Valeria Johnson
Hi Valeria, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I come from a family of geologists, with my mother collecting interesting and rare specimens during her geological expeditions. So, growing up around crystals and gemstones and playing with them was my first acquaintance with the Earth treasures and their vast variety. My mother was also a jewelry lover, and I often would sneak into her jewelry box and admire her wearable treasures. As I got older and found myself on a spiritual path of self-discovery, I became intensely drawn to amulets, symbolic jewelry, and gemstones. Attending a 7-day Ayurvedic spiritual retreat and visiting their gift shop with beautiful and meaningful gemstone jewelry was a pivotal and catalytic moment that inspired me to take steps to create jewelry similar but on a more upscale level that I always wanted myself to wear but at the attainable price point. And LelaLea Gems was born, using the middle names of my two daughters and a vision to help adorn women’s necks with healing, ethnic-inspired modern gem pieces with a main focus on beaded necklaces.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Starting a one-woman business is never a smooth road with many obstacles like learning about your craft (assembly and materials), gemstones and their properties, their kinds and variety, finding reputable suppliers for top quality gem beads and findings, bookkeeping, social media and content creation, photography, client relations, and market demands.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am jewelry and gemstone designer, crafter, and collector. I specialize mainly in beaded gemstone necklaces with boho and ethnic flair and one-off designs. I am a huge lover of high-quality colored gemstones, and I utilize them in my designs. I am most proud of doing it all alone and reaching a milestone like being recognized as a jewelry influencer and contributing jewelry-related articles for the infamous net-a-porter magazine. Also, counting many celebrities as clients. My distinctions are my unique one-off designs, top-quality materials, and philosophy…
How do you think about luck?
My biggest luck that played substantial role in propelling my business forward was being reached out by a high-ranking celebrity that made multiple purchases over the years and giving me exposure and recognition to a wider international market
Contact Info:
- Website: https://LelaLea.com
- Instagram: @lelaleagems
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lelaleagems
Image Credits
Valeria Johnson
