We were lucky to catch up with Alicia Shulman recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alicia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, let’s jump into one of the most exciting parts of starting a new venture – how did you get your first client who was not a friend or family?
From the ring to the bling:
After exiting the world-championship boxing arena – where I was a widely published photographer for five years, I became enchanted with semi-precious stones, and began to craft necklaces. Though I had visions of moving jewelry forward as a business, I was nowhere near that.
One day, while visiting my folks in Florida, mom and I were in the Boca Mall – both wearing statement necklaces I’d recently finished. Upon entering the Kate Spade store, we were immediately approached by the manager inquiring “where did you ladies purchase those necklaces?”
Without skipping a beat, I shot back “I am the designer.”
She suggested that their corporate offices in NYC meet with me to view the line. I did not have a line. “Great,” said I.
Well, a couple of weeks later I was at the Kate Spade offices presenting to their jewelry buyer.
It must have gone well, because the call that would start everything came a week later: “Kate would like to order three styles for her stores nationwide.”
What began as innocent flirtation with stones quickly escalated to a love affair. And business.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Essentially, I am my brand. My brand is my story. One of reinvention, not taking no for an answer, painting outside the lines with passion, striving for excellence, understanding that when dealing with clients, the notion of 110% is a real thing.
Be it photography, jewelry, interiors, or my new venture, The Art of Yachting…. my core instincts for color and composition are the silver thread running through all that I touch.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I was on my second trip to Africa, creating twelve jewelry samples commissioned by a client, that would subsequently become an order of several hundred pieces. The samples needed to be near perfect. For ten days I worked alongside shoemakers in huts as they executed my leather cuffs in the countryside outside of Dakar.. The lack of electricity, internet, and water paled in comparison to the challenges of the work and deadline. But I pulled it off. The CEO couldn’t wait to see the samples upon my return. But the universe had other plans.
Waiting in my mailbox was a letter from the client announcing Chapter 11. I would not be paid for the previous order of 600 pieces, or for the Africa trip, materials… not to mention the lost opportunity costs and of all my time.
Shaken by the emotional and financial impact, I stepped away to re assess.
After nearly a year of pilates, writing, and swimming…. my creative spirit was back in full force and it was time for a new challenge and chapter.
I introduced myself and my work to David Yurman. After two hours talking in his kitchen amidst seventy samples and two portfolios – assembled solely for this meeting – a consultancy role was created which would stretch for ten years.
At fifty-five, having had no corporate experience, I entered this alien environment. Everything about it was new, as was designing on command and on someone else’s deadlines. Taking a backseat – even if it was to a titan.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My mission is simple. To stay enthused, to be relevant, to connect dots in ways that I can share and inspire, At sixty-six, revisiting and offering my boxing archives as art is thrilling. The space that I’m entering with this limited-edition exclusive photographic-art is the challenge I wake up to at five o’clock each morning, strategizing my market, fine-tuning the machine, looking at media opportunities, and so on.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theartofyachting.com
- Instagram: the.artofyachting.
