Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Rocha.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Born Lisa Ila Rocha, I was raised in Pico Union, and later in the West Adams area of L.A. My love for jewelry design started at the early age of 7, when my Grandmother Carmen Rocha (known for her famous Nachos at El Cholo) gave me my first jewelry making kit. It was my earliest memory of creating jewelry. It was a hobby that turned into a career.
Over the years, I found myself seeking different jewelry making techniques and so I majored in Art at Pasadena City College with an emphasis on Metalsmithing. As my design skills developed, my Jewelry began to be influenced by a Getty Museum Internship I landed in the late 90’s at Self Help Graphics in East L.A. It was through working for Self Help that my jewelry career emerged. It was a place that gave me an outlet into the Latino/Chicano Art Scene to expose and exhibit my jewelry. But its where I feel my collection developed into what it is today, a Lifestyle Jewelry Brand.
Ilaments jewelry was born in 1999, where I saw a need for a culturally, urban-influenced jewelry collection and since then Ilaments has incorporated my culture stories, iconic images and Dia de Los Muertos into my metalwork. Ilaments is influenced by my Mexican, Native American and Chicano Heritage. Creating collections with stories behind each design was what made my work influential and a lifestyle brand that didn’t exist. Not like today, there are so many beautiful cultural brands. I wanted to create jewelry that was unique and made with 100% Carino! I felt the general market needed more collections reflecting culture and an urban feel. All these elements combined is what makes Ilaments.
My company name “Ilaments” derives from my middle name “ila” and the word “elements”. Ila is Hopi and means “one who takes on challenges”. I truly believe Jewelry is an extension of oneself and for me Ilaments is definitely inspired by my Mexican/Native American/Chicano Heritage and my urban surroundings.
Over the past 17 yrs., Ilaments operated a storefront inside the West Adams, Mercado La Paloma, exhibited at trade shows in L.A., Vegas and New York., Co-Managed Casa Azul showroom at the Mart & was Nominated in 2014 as a Dama de Lincoln Ambassador for the Lincoln Motor Co. “Ilaments tells stories with every bead, and this is what makes Lisa Dama de Lincoln.”
Over the past 18 yrs. in business, my jewelry journey has led me to have my own store out of Mercado La Paloma, known as Hecho con Alma. Where I was able to be a part of my West Adams neighborhood, but in 2001 I decided to close it and become more mobile. As a designer, I transitioned into exhibiting my work at Tradeshows in L.A., Las Vegas, S.F. and New York. These shows landed Ilaments Jewelry in local boutiques throughout L.A. like Fred Segal, Mi Vida Boutique, Casita del Pueblo to name a few and stores throughout the U.S. Ilaments has also sold at Museums such as the Molaa, Autry, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Forest Lawn Cemetery Museum and most recently at The Museum of New Mexico.
Ilaments has been featured InStyle Magazine, Latina Magazine, Cosmo Latina and Teen Vogue. My Jewelry has been worn by Celebrities like Morissey, Erykah Badu & Gwen Stefani to name a few. To Find out more about my jewelry collection go to www.ilaments.net.
Has it been a smooth road?
The struggles along the way have been to continue to believe in what you do. To learn how to navigate the daily ups and downs of entrepreneurship and stay true to you and your vision. I learned the hard way of having a partnership in 2000 by owning my own store. Thru this experience I learned that I could not let my jewelry be confined to a space. So I left my store at the Mercado La Paloma in 2000, and ventured into Tradeshows. I exhibited my jewelry from 2001 to the present and never looked back. Each show brought new business, new stores and clients I would have never landed staying in that partnership. I’m grateful for the lesson of learning its ok to take a minimal risk and also knowing what your making is important and needs to be shared with the world.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
What sets Ilaments apart from other brands, is our style of design. My most influential collection has been Dia de Los Muertos Collection that was created in 2000 and landed Ilaments in the Accessories report of InStyle Magazine. Since then Ilaments has set a trend with our cultural infused and urban designs. I love what I do, I don’t look to the general market for what to make next, I follow my heart and I believe it has made Ilaments the jewelry it is today.
I’m mostly proud of becoming a collection that has been featured in museums across the U.S. and also nominated as a Dama de Lincoln Ambassador by the Lincoln Motor Company. I was selected with 5 other Latina Brands to represent the West Coast! How cool is that! The Lincoln Motor Co. valued my attention to detail throughout my craftsmanship. It was truly an honor.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I feel L.A. is the best place to discover new talent! I feel L.A. needs to revamp the L.A. Mart and combine the L.A. tradeshows to make it more accessible to artists to be featured and found. But in my opinion, L.A. sets the trend.
Pricing:
- Prices range from $20-$750
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ilaments.net
- Phone: 3232438774
- Email: shopilaments@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ilaments
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ilaments
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/ilaments
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
