We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nikita a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Nikita , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

I was holding up a bracelet I made toward the sun, and the light hit it in the most beautiful way. It gave off a soft glow and looked like it was surrounded by a haze. That moment inspired me to name it Glow and Haze.

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

Hi, I’m Nikita Fernandez, the founder of Glow and Haze. I started by making bracelets as a hobby, and over time, it grew into a small handmade jewelry business. I focus on creating simple, meaningful pieces — mainly bracelets — that are made with care and intention. Every item is handcrafted to bring a soft, light, and personal touch to everyday style. What sets Glow and Haze apart is the love and thought that goes into each piece. I’m proud to create jewelry that makes people feel good and connected.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I started my bracelet business, Glow and Haze, things didn’t go as smoothly as I expected. At first, sales were very slow. I spent hours making bracelets, staying up late to finish designs, but sometimes I would go days without a single order. It was discouraging, and I thought about stopping more than once.

Instead of giving up, I decided to treat it as a learning opportunity. I researched how other small business owners marketed their products, experimented with social media posts, and even asked friends for feedback on my designs. I kept adjusting until I noticed what worked—certain colors, styles, and captions drew more attention. Slowly, sales started to pick up, and Glow and Haze began to grow.

What I learned is that setbacks don’t mean failure. They’re just part of the process. That experience taught me how to stay persistent, adapt when things don’t go as planned, and keep pushing toward my goals even when progress feels slow.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I first started my bracelet business, Glow and Haze, I thought that “if you make a great product, people will automatically buy it.” I poured all my energy into creating designs, picking the right beads, and making each bracelet perfect. But after launching, I quickly realized that even the best product won’t sell if no one knows about it. I had almost no sales in the beginning, and it was frustrating.

That’s when I had to unlearn the idea that quality alone guarantees success. The backstory was that I was relying only on word of mouth and occasional posts, thinking my work would speak for itself. Once I let go of that mindset, I shifted to learning marketing, experimenting with social media strategies, and even thinking about packaging and presentation.

Unlearning that old belief helped me understand that success is a mix of both product and visibility. Now I see resilience not just as pushing forward, but also being willing to change my approach when something isn’t working.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glowandhaze/

Image Credits

Image by Nikita Fernandez