We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Adriana Brito. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Adriana below.

Alright, Adriana thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I am the happiest as a business owner. I sometimes think about what it would be like to have a regular job because most people usually have a “normal” job and when I tell them what I do and that I make a living with my own jewelry business, they don’t see it or believe it is possible. The truth is that I don’t miss my 9/5 at all and I don’t regret the decisions I’ve made. Last year I quit my corporate job in Houston and came to Austin, with fear, but with so many dreams! It may be hard at times to be a business owner, but let me tell you, it is so worth it and rewarding!

Adriana, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi! My name is Adriana Brito, and I’m 24 years old. My family and I came from Venezuela seven years ago to this amazing country— known as the land of opportunities, and it truly is. Two years ago, I began selling a Colombian jewelry brand in Houston, TX, and was thrilled to be on an entrepreneurial path. But after a few months, I realized I was building someone else’s brand instead of my own. That sparked something inside me! I spent months preparing, dreaming, and planning, and finally last year, I decided to create my own brand. I moved to Austin, TX, with the goal of growing ELLA by Anto into something I could be proud of.

I’m the founder of ELLA, a jewelry brand with a mission to spread love and beauty through handcrafted pieces. My journey into this industry is fueled by my love for fashion, clothes, and of course, jewelry. But more than that, I wanted to create pieces that weren’t just “jewelry”— they’re symbols of love and connection. I want every piece to feel like an everyday celebration of affection, something you don’t want to take off because it just feels right.

ELLA offers a collection of handmade necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, each piece crafted by me. I use high-quality stainless steel with a gold finish and also incorporate beautiful freshwater pearls into my designs. Every piece is thoughtfully designed to be water-resistant and durable, so my clients can wear them confidently in any season! We also offer rings sourced from Colombia, made by talented artisans— supporting our Latino community is close to my heart, and I’m proud to share their work through ELLA.

What makes ELLA stand out is that our jewelry isn’t just about looking beautiful; it’s about creating a personal connection. Each piece carries intention, warmth, and love, which I believe makes ELLA unique. From versatile heart necklaces that take the guesswork out of layering to symbolic Virgencitas pieces, each product tells a story and adds meaning to our clients’ lives. This personal touch, combined with high-quality craftsmanship, is what I believe sets ELLA apart.

One of my proudest accomplishments is being able to handcraft so many of these pieces at home. There’s a personal connection that goes into each creation, and seeing the ELLA community grow has been beyond rewarding. Knowing that people connect with and feel empowered by our pieces is a constant reminder of why I started this journey.

To me, ELLA is so much more than just a brand—she is my sister, my friend, my baby girl; she’s just perfect. She’s the best version of myself and truly the best thing that has ever happened to me. Every piece is made with care, and my goal is to create jewelry that isn’t just beautiful but also resonates with our customers’ stories and emotions.

When someone chooses ELLA, they’re choosing jewelry that’s crafted with love, made to last, and designed to celebrate all of life’s moments, big and small.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I think the best example of resilience in my journey was when I moved to Austin, TX last year. I decided to quit my corporate job, which I thought was my dream job, at a CPA firm in Houston. I’d spend my days in the office, working downtown with a nice view, and the pay was okay. On the surface, it wasn’t a bad job, but once I had it, I realized it wasn’t what I wanted at all. My entire year was spent working, driving, and sleeping. I wasn’t eating right, I’d stopped going to the gym, and I even started to distance myself from my boyfriend. I knew something needed to change.

That’s when I started coming to Austin on the weekends to drive for Uber, all while keeping my 9-to-5 in Houston during the week. I started to notice that in just one weekend of driving Uber, I could make as much or sometimes more than what I earned at the CPA firm. So, I decided to go for it—I moved to Austin, rented an apartment, and started following my crazy dream of building ELLA. While my business was still growing, I drove Uber every day to cover my expenses. On weekends I’d be at markets selling my jewelry in the morning and drive for uber at night. And I still had a part-time insurance gig, too, just to make sure everything was covered!

My goal was that, by this year, ELLA would be able to support me fully. And thank God, I haven’t had to touch that Uber app since! This journey taught me that the hardest part is trusting yourself. The answers were there all along—I just needed to believe in myself enough to make it happen.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Honestly, a big boost at the beginning was the Colombian jewelry brand I started with. Because I represented them, I had people buying from me or even just following me because of that connection. That’s how I got my first 1k followers. But while I thought this would just be a way to get sales or gain followers, I later realized I was actually scared to launch my own brand. I worried that people wouldn’t like my pieces, wouldn’t buy, or might even unfollow me. After a lot of thinking, I finally took the risk—and if it didn’t work out, I figured I could always go back to selling for them. It turned out to be the best decision I’ve made! Now I’m almost at 3k, and honestly, I owe it all to ELLA!

One big piece of advice for anyone starting to build a presence on social media: show up as yourself. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Don’t be afraid of people unfollowing or rejecting you. If someone unfollows you, they weren’t meant to be your client anyway, and that’s okay. There are so many more people out there who will connect with you—I promise! Collaborations are also super helpful, and don’t forget to make lots of videos and carousels to share info about your brand. Also daily stories are key for staying connected with your audience!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ellabyanto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellabyanto?igsh=MWNwN2k1bzM3NXA4Yg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avemariahouston?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Other: Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@ellabyanto?_t=8r8HuNomYDn&_r=1

Image Credits

Dayana Lopez
Natalie from Luna y Sol Photography