Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elizabeth Clar. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Elizabeth, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I believe that these key attributes lead to success as an entrepreneur :

1. Perseverance – Being an entrepreneur is no easy task. You have to adapt and try new things on a consistent basis. There will be good days and bad days but in the end you will only succeed if you never give up.

2. Passion – Can your clients see and feel the love you have for your chosen business? It’s important to love what you do and exude this confidence throughout your sales/customer experience. I feel overjoyed when clients are able to wear their heirloom jewelry after I have repaired or redesigned their pieces. I am over the moon when a piece that I have created is on the runway during NYFW. It is evident that I live for creating and connecting with people through my designs

3, Patience – Most people do not become an overnight success. Starting and running your own business is a process that you build upon day after day. With perseverance and passion you will also need to be patient to be discovered and get your name out there as an expert in your given field.
Be patient and stick it out and you WILL find success.

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

I have been creating since I can remember and have always been eclectic in my style and designs. I draw inspiration from bold patterns, colors and textures in items that I use in my work. The majority of my creations start as unique pieces that I find at thrift stores. I love up cycling and deconstructing these vintage items to create modern wearable art that is fashion forward and unique. Some of my favorite materials include vintage jewelry, clothing, purses, and placemats.

I am most proud of my recent participation at NYFW in a rooftop runway show. It was amazing to see models (both male and female) showcasing my designs.

In addition to my high fashion pieces, I also work with clients to repair and/or redesign their vintage jewelry. Recently I worked with a woman who wanted to wear a special piece of jewelry on her wedding day. She sent me her fathers baby bracelet to clean and restring so that she could wear it on her ankle in remembrance of him. I cleaned each blue bead with a toothbrush and restrung the piece so that she could wear it on her big day. I love the stories behind vintage jewelry and being a part of modernizing these pieces so they can be enjoyed today.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My name is Elizabeth Clar and I have been an avid beader, creator and collector for as long as I can remember. I love vintage jewelry in particular because of the unique designs and the nostalgia behind the pieces. And like many creatives out there, I live for the hunt and get super excited when I find new pieces to recreate, restore or add to my collection.

I started my Etsy shop in 2009 and focused mainly on colorful cocktail and statement rings. I constructed these rings out of vintage clip on earrings, buttons and brooches and enjoyed the whole process.

In 2014 my husband had a brain cancer recurrence and so I closed my shop to support him and focus on my day job which was very time consuming. I kept my collection but really missed the calming outlet creating provided. My husbands tumor returned in 2017 and 2018 before he passed away at the end of 2018 at age 39.

Right before covid I quit my corporate job to pursue my life long passion. Creating has become increasingly important to my well being as I I am now working on my business full time and am LOVING it. Creating is very therapeutic in my life journey as I navigate the ups and downs of grieving such a devastating loss.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think that having a niche is really key. My designs are not for everyone but almost every woman has that box of sentimental vintage jewelry that they don’t know what to do with. They don’t want to get rid of it but they won’t wear it because it is broken or not modernized. My reputation is built on building rapport and trust. I am honest and ethical and follow through with my promises. Referrals have been key to obtaining new business and positive reviews on Etsy and in the community locally have been invaluable.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vintagefusionjewelry.net
• Instagram: vintagefusionjewelry
• Facebook: Elizabeth Clar
• Other: www.vintagefusionjewelry.etsy.com

Image Credits
Alexis Meschi photographer (the photos with me in them) I can email you the other photographer and the names of the models from NYFW