We were lucky to catch up with Karla Chavez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Karla thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I was hanging out with a friend one evening, and I distinctly remember him asking me if I had ever considered turning my hobby into a business. Honestly, at the time, it hadn’t crossed my mind. That same night, we began brainstorming brandable names for this hypothetical business. My own healing journey beautifully inspired the name Serenity Designs. Once we landed on a name, my friend pulled out his laptop and started designing a logo.

This visionary process of creating a business sparked the official start of both a jewelry business and a brand. Working intentionally and upholding a vision created the necessary and powerful momentum to manifest itself into reality. That night, the concept of Serenity Designs was born. To me, Serenity Designs represents arriving at a place of peace and clarity, despite the chaos around me. It means being present, appreciating and ultimately enjoying the moment.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Karla Chávez and I am a self-taught jewelry designer from San Diego, California. Having always had a passion for the arts, I discovered my artistic talent at a young age. One of my earliest childhood memories was entering a drawing contest in elementary school and winning a prize for my drawing. As a kid, I also remember making “bolis” or the equivalent of otter pops as well as other handmade crafts and selling them to my friends, family and neighbors. I became fascinated with the idea of creating things with my hands.
Throughout the years I’ve experimented with different artistic mediums, but it was in 2002, when I was introduced to jewelry making by one of my nearest and dearest friends; I immediately fell in love with this new practice! This new hobby allowed me the artistic freedom to create personalized gifts for friends and family for years to come.

In 2014, it became official; I opened a shop on a global online marketplace which gradually transitioned to a standalone e-commerce website.

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

My journey has not always been easy, but it is through my struggles that I have found my strength. It was a traumatic, life-changing experience that finally allowed me to embrace the opportunity for a fresh start, while deepening my journey of self-healing, transformation and spiritual growth.
In 2011, my world shifted. I was finally heeding the call and following the path to my artistic voyage. At last, jewelry making became more than a fun and creative hobby, it served as a therapeutic outlet. At this point, I became acutely aware of an influx of serendipitous moments. I learned much about my family history. It was a unique opportunity to embrace and honor my ancestors. I was reminded of two important family members from both sides of my family. On my father’s side, I learned that my abuelo was a comerciante, or what we’d call today, a small business owner in Jalisco, Mexico. My great grandmother on my mother’s side was a sobadora (loosely translated to masseuse or traditional healer in English) in Nayarit, México. By using my hands and newly acquired business acumen I continue to honor my family lineage. These instances aligned consistently with the many different types of people and conversations I was having with other healers and community builders.

My journey led me to meeting spiritual mentors, as well as other talented artists and creative entrepreneurs. Unbeknownst to me, these people were consistently placed in my path. Validating my intuition to pursue a path in entrepreneurship.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Starting a new business, while certainly exciting, also carries with it many challenges. As a solo-entrepreneur I wear many hats. Among the many hats worn are: Jewelry Designer, Sourcing Specialist, Web Designer, Shipping and Receiving Specialist, Customer Service Representative, Photographer and Content Creator. Being at the forefront of the business and sharing my story has helped me to stay connected with my customers on a much more personal level. Sharing behind the scenes product videos, maintaining a consistent and engaging social media presence and sharing the inspiration behind the brand has also been key in building a steady organic community of followers. The majority of customers are repeat customers, social media followers or new customers gained by word of mouth. Serenity Designs was built with the intention to connect with customers who may be on a similar journey. I am blessed, honored and truly humbled by my loyal customers, and the support of those around me who want to see me succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.myserenitydesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myserenitydesigns
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myserenitydesigns
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/serenitydesign6

Image Credits
Photo 1 | Headshot Photographer: Alexa Marquez
Photos 2-6 | Model: Everleigh Kantner (IG: @velvettwiggy), Photographer: Rachel Danielle Photography (IG: @rachel_danielle_photography)
Photo 7 | Model: Everleigh Kantner (IG: @velvettwiggy), Photographer: Jono Copeland (https://www.jcopephotography.com/)
Photo 8 | Photographer: Karla Chavez
Photo 9 | Model: Alondra de la Torre, Photographer: Karla Chaves