Tell us about the journey that led you to launch your brand Washed Ashore…
Washed Ashore was conceived from my love for Mother Nature and a way for me to express my creativity which has always been inspired by her designs. Jewelry has always held a very special place in my heart. My background is in archaeology and art history, and from my studies, these precious objects have always been revered as sacred objects. To me, jewelry holds sentimental values, making them every day magic. It had always been a dream of mine to make sure that we are creating beautiful jewelry without harming the people and the environment in the making. We were able to achieve that in May 2019, as we relaunched as an all-sustainable jewelry line that we are today.
What’s been the biggest challenge in business that you’ve faced and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge as a small business and setting out to always do what is right, both by the people and the environment, is there is no rule book or guidelines of how to operate. Challenges can be found from day-to-day operations, to finding sustainable alternatives to the traditional way of manufacturing and packaging jewelry. To overcome these issues, we take all options into account and see what makes the most sense, from all aspects, sustainability, financially, and morally.
Washed Ashore
If you were to describe your business mantra in three words, what would they be?
Compassion, Karma, Sustainability
What advice would you offer anyone interested in venturing into the world of jewelry design?
I would say that it is important to always stay true to who you are in regard to design and the creative process. For me, to achieve the best work, I have to be comfortable with my style and process and just go with whatever flows out. As much as you would like your design to speak to a lot of people, I learned that you can’t sacrifice and compromise your identity to try to please others.
Talk us through an average business day in your life…
We are a small team of women, so we all wear different hats when it comes to our day-to-day business. We start out the week with a team call to get the whole team on the same page, and to divide and conquer. Our CEO spearheads and handles all aspects of the company. An average business day for me consists of a balance between design and copywriting work, along with assisting my team with anything they may need.
Business can be an upward struggle at times, what do you do to stay positive?
I am very blessed to be surrounded by very supportive people, both in personal life and at work. When I am feeling down, I am reminded of what is truly important. Once you get centered, nothing else really matters. Self-care and meditation are always a good idea to keep the positive vibe going as well.
Washed Ashore
Do you have a go-to quote when lacking motivation?
“If you get tired, learn to rest, not quit” – Banksy
How much has social media played a role in the success of your jewelry brand?
Social media plays a big role in the growth of Washed Ashore. It is an amazing way to reach and connect with our customers directly. We share the brand’s ethos, philosophy, and beliefs through social media, in the hope that the impact we would like to have in the world can be exposed to our customers. The success comes from the engagement that we have built and created a community of like-minded people who would like to see and be an active player in making the change we would like to see in the world. Our jewelry represents much more than a monetary object.
How do you want people to feel when they first see your designs?
I hope that the designs provide people an experience of nature, subtle, yet powerful at the same time. The designs are not merely just for aesthetics, but intentionally done in the hope of expressing mother nature’s beauty, inspiring people to fall in love with her, igniting the need to protect her.
Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list, and do you have a favourite Washed Ashore piece that you would take away with you?
I am a tropical babe at heart, and love to spend time in nature. I have never been to Tahiti and have a good friend who is from there so that is number one on my bucket list. I would take with me the Tarita choker, bracelet, and anklet since they were named after the famous Tahitian actress Tarita Teriipaia.
What’s next for you and your brand?
We are getting ready for the holiday season, we are excited to launch the new holiday pieces so please stay tuned! At Washed Ashore, we are also always striving for higher levels of sustainability so we are working on various certifications. So hopefully we will have some exciting news to share soon.
Where can people find out more about Washed Ashore?
At our website Washed Ashore and our socials:
Instagram – @getwashedashore
Pinterest – Get Washed Ashore
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