We were lucky to catch up with Angell Jazmin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Angell thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us a bit about who your hero is and the influence they’ve had on you?

My hero is and always will be my Mom <3 I was raised by an immigrant single mother that broke generational curses, fought her way up a corporate ladder without a college degree and much, much more, while giving me the best life she could. She taught me that although it might feel like the world is against me, specifically as a WoC, nothing is impossible. My mom has always supported me and I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without her love and care. It’s because of her stregnth and examples I was able to move my way up the jewelry industry without any formal teaching. Mi Raíz Jewelry is not self made but instead community made because my business wouldn’t be where it’s at without the support of my mom and loved ones.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi, my name is Angell Jazmin and I’m the owner, designer, and jeweler behind Mi Raíz Jewelry. As a first-generation American, I’ve always strived to break cycles and become the best version of myself. That’s why becoming a small business owner doing what I love has been a goal of mine since childhood. It’s important for me to represent where I come from through my work and I hope that helps others like me, see that it’s possible for them too.

I’ve always known I wanted a career in fashion so I found jobs working for small jewelry businesses and learned everything I know today- I’ll never take the time for granted. These different jobs showed me what it was like being a POC in an industry that didn’t like representing us or paying livable wages. I vowed early on that I would be the change we needed. I want to use my brand to represent underprivileged communities and I want to be the brand that shows its employees they are appreciated, mentally AND financially.

Mi Raíz Jewelry is a mix of handmade, cast, and wire-wrapped pieces made in sterling silver, gold-filled, brass, and the occasional 14k gold. My designs are a mix of traditional and modern, simple but striking all in one. Each piece is handmade and curated for you to wear for generations to come while outlasting any trends.

Mi Raíz Jewelry hopes to solve the idea that you have to spend a lot of money to invest in jewelry and heirlooms. If you’re able to afford karat jewelry go for it, but if you can’t, silver, brass, and gold-filled pieces are worth the smaller investment as well. I want to discredit the myth that if your jewelry turns dull or turns your finger green, it’s fake. When in fact it just needs a good cleaning. I use my social media as an informative guide to show why this happens and how to clean your jewelry at home in just a few easy steps. Mi Raíz Jewelry hopes to encourage our customers and future customers that spending money on luxury items can be sentimental and beautiful without breaking the bank.

I think Mi Raíz Jewelry uniquely fits this need because I am a lot like my customers. Just like me, my customers are looking for quality over quantity, to support WoC & PoC communities we are part of, and to generate generational wealth without exploiting others along the way.

My biggest accomplishment to date would be my 3-month feature in British Vogue’s jewelry designer showcase. It was a complete shock to be recognized as a designer by such a prestigious publication, especially for only being in business for 6 months.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I’m sure there are so many other things I could be doing to grow my clientele but as of right now my main strategy is in-person markets. There’s just something about meeting customers face to face and talking about your work. It’s amazing when you can feed off of that positive energy and both of us show how passionate we are about my work. The in-person interactions are what keep me confident that there’s a little sub-group of humans that like my creations as much as I do.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

If you’re able to I would recommend cutting out all those third-party sites and going directly to using Shopify. For me, it’s very user-friendly and you pay a flat monthly fee with the option to pay for a full year at 25% off after your first year. The website allows your small business to grow without donating a percentage of sales. So even though you might’ve made more money this month compared to last month- your website fee stays the same. They also offer subscription levels for when you hit those milestone moments of growth. The only issue I have is the app plug ins you might need to buy depending on what your website and business infrastructure is. Hopefully you can find one that offers a free plan. Overall, I highly recommend using Shopify.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.miraizjewelry.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miraizjewelry/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miraizjewelry
• Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/miraizjewelry/
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@miraizjewelry

Image Credits
All my images