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

Sara, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers

The craziest thing that has happened in my business is also the most amazingly positive experience and one that carried my business through the hardships of Covid.

I had been trying for years to connect my jewelry to the world of Hollywood and found myself spending way to much money on PR with very little return, but then I connected with a fellow jewelry designer who posted that she once again had jewelry worn on TV and I needed to know how that happened! She was so wonderful to share with me that she joined The Artisan Group which finds these kinds of opportunities for designers and I immediately went to join.

Fast forward months later and we were offered to gift our work to the costume designer for This Is Us and I think I almost swooned lol. I chose 2 pieces to send, my Petal and Quartz Earrings and a dainty gemstone necklace. Now we are told from the beginning that we won’t necessarily know if they will use our pieces and patience is very important, so when in December of 2019 while I was putting my newborn daughter to bed, and a fellow member of The Artisan Group saw Mandy Moore wearing MY earrings in her IG stories, I totally freaked out! I knew that meant I would be seeing my Petal and Quartz Earrings at some point on the show. It took almost 2 more months for season 4 episode 13 to air and then young Kate’s beautiful dream sequence with Rebecca in her floral dress and my earrings coming to completely fill the screen!

Now I have been lucky to have multiple pieces of my jewelry worn on TV but nothing, NOTHING was like this moment and is STILL my all time most amazing experience. Since that episode aired (right before COVID lockdown), I have shipped those earrings all over the US as well as to the UK, Germany, Tokyo, Australia, Canada, and they continue to be a best seller 5 years later!

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 Sara Mizrachi and I am the self-taught jewelry designer behind Sara Sela Jewelry, a woman owned small batch jewelry company originally from Brooklyn, NY, but I have been based in Skokie, IL since 2020.

I loved making jewelry as a kid, some of the fondest childhood memories I have are when I made jewelry for my mom and she was always so overjoyed to receive her newest pieces of jewelry.

When I was 13, I was making jewelry with my friend and she was elated about what I had made, and this made me realize that I could make OTHER people happy with my jewelry. I began to teach myself how to work with different materials, how to create connective pieces, how to secure necklaces and make earrings.

At 17, I went to the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC for Jewelry Design and I started falling in love with the colors, shapes and textures of gemstones and metals of all kinds, so when I turned 18, I opened my jewelry business and dove deeper into my skills.

When I was 22, everything changed when I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and underwent surgery that left me with a sensitive scar on my neck. I could no longer wear my full statement pieces and needed to make something simpler I could wear that wasn’t so heavy. I loved jewelry too much to give it away and I loved creating too much to stop. Being without it was not an option.

So, then I realized I could take my love of combining shapes, colors and textures to create simple statement pieces that elevate everyday looks, and now these timeless statement pieces help you to feel special and feel good without having to overthink your accessories, no matter if you’re a CEO, nurse on call or a busy mom of 3 (like me)!

Inspired by the raw beauty of the shapes, textures and colors found in nature, I use earthy colors and natural gemstones in combination with organic and geometric shapes for a uniquely balanced design. I love creating simple statement pieces for an elevated everyday look.

At Sara Sela Jewelry, we create timeless statement pieces to help you feel confidently styled, even during your busiest days.

Sara Sela Jewelry has been afforded to be a part of gifting to movies and TV shows including Lifetime Christmas movies, This Is Us, Only Murders In The Building, Grown-Ish, Law & Order: SVU, NCIS Hawaii, Home Economics, Firefly Lane, So Help Me Todd, Girls5Eva, All American, The Young and The Restless, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Red One, and gifted to actresses including Emily Blunt, Rihanna, Joanna Gaines, Britney Spears, Reese Witherspoon, Sabrina Carpenter, Cindy Crawford, Lauren Graham, Ellen Pompeo, Jennifer Lopez, Scarlett Johansson, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Zoe Kravitz, Kate Hudson, Drew Barrymore, Jessica Simpson, Emma Roberts, Chloe Sevigny, Hilary Duff, Katherine Schwarzenegger, the Bella Twins, Lea Michele, Kaley Cuoco, Keke Palmer, Rumer Willis, Stevie Nicks and Viola Davis among others!

Have you ever had to pivot?

The first time and most important time I ever had to pivot in my life but also in my business was all the way back in 2008. I had gone to my doctor for a regular check-up that turned into a terrifying experience where I learned that I had a small lump in my throat, and having to go through a series of tests showed that I had thyroid cancer. I had to have surgery and they had to remove my entire thyroid gland and over 20 lymph nodes, leaving a highly sensitive keloid scar all across my neck just above my collarbone.

Now up until this time, I was starting my small business and designing these big, bold statement necklaces using colorful gemstones that I loved to wear and it was how I was building my identity of my brand, but all of a sudden I looked at my designs and I could no longer wear any of my pieces without feeling super uncomfortable and even painful.

At that point I couldn’t relate to my jewelry anymore and I needed to change and make simpler pieces that I could wear that weren’t so heavy. There was absolutely no way that I was going to stop making jewelry, that was not an option and I love it way too much! So taking my love of gemstones and my love of the beauty of the shapes, textures and colors found in nature, I started to create simple statement pieces and eventually finding a way to create, combining organic and geometric shapes /components for a uniquely beautiful and balanced design!

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I think it is so important to not only share your beautiful work on your social media, but show up as yourself! You don’t need to share everything about your personal life, but share your story behind your brand, speak to your clientele about your inspirations, your processes…Make yourself available to anyone who leaves a question or a comment.

I specifically create style guides and fashion mood boards for my Instagram, showing how you can accessorize your looks with Sara Sela Jewelry and I have made that a big part of my brand. I want to show what inspires my designs but also how versatile my designs are. I think this helps my brand stand out, making my customers know that I am here to answer questions, create custom designs and help them find jewelry that they will love for years to come! This has helped me retain clients and fans for almost 20 years!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sarasela.com www.etsy.com/shop/saraselajewelry
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saraselajewelry
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saraselajewelry
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/rdrjXh5yZJo?si=-Ymk1-_TVljUH-wQ
• Other: https://www.faire.com/direct/saraselajewelry