Life & Work with Kiara Velasquez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiara Velasquez.

Hi Kiara, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m Kiara, creator of laylay designs. I’m a 9-5 public health worker and use majority of my 5-9 building laylay.

Laylay designs came to fruition during a creative rut. I found myself needing to make something with my hands, to try something challenging and new. I always had an affinity for jewelry – earrings being my favorite piece. The idea of laylay popped into my head around March of 2020. At the time, there was no name, just sketches of earrings and lists of supplies.

I bought myself the supplies to make earrings for my birthday in May, and by the end of June I had created my first few pairs. Flash forward to now, almost eight months later, and I can’t believe what it’s become! I’ve gained an incredibly supportive following, had the opportunity to sell at pop-ups, and have sent my pieces all over the country. It is surreal, and I am excited to see what the future holds.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Of course, there have been some difficulties, but that’s expected with anything new. The biggest obstacle has definitely been time. Finding the time outside of day-to-day life to create pieces and manage the business. I’ve spent hours creating pieces that have disappointed me in the end. Whether it being the quality or just not liking how they came out, it’s always frustrating to spend time on something that doesn’t turn out how you’d like. However, I have learned to appreciate the learning curve of the process. Apart from the creation itself, I am learning how to build a business – marketing, legalities, sales, budgeting. I am a one woman show, which I’m sure a lot of small business owners can relate with. I wear every hat: production, social media, website design, product photography, financial advisor, etc. Everything has been trial & error, but when something goes right, it’s a wonderful feeling.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My pieces are all one-of-a-kind handmade polymer clay earrings. Some pairs are accented with brass or gold-filled charms. I would like to venture into other accessories or items, but for now earrings are my main focus. Sometimes they’re created out of nowhere. I sit and stare at what I have in stock and just create without a plan. Other pieces are made with every bit of intention. These are the pieces I’m most proud of since they are typically inspired by my interests, identity, and culture. As a Filipino-American, it’s important for me to represent that in my art. I have dedicated a handful of pieces to my Filipino heritage, and I appreciate how much love they receive from my audience. It always brightens my day to see someone wear a pair of earrings or send me a message about how they appreciate the representation of our community through laylay.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
When it comes to starting a business or taking on something new, risk is always involved. I’m a firm believer of weighing pros and cons but ultimately going with your gut. Looking back, I was so hesitant on starting laylay because I wasn’t sure if it was worth the risk. At the time, I was unemployed, quarantine had just started, and I couldn’t justify buying all of the supplies without knowing what would come of it. However, after some months of contemplation and quite a bit of overthinking, I bit the bullet and decided to spend the money. The worst that could’ve happened was that no one would want to purchase my items, but at least I found something I loved to do – whether it was lucrative or not. Thankfully, all of the time and effort I spent planning has manifested itself into a successful venture, and none of this would exist if I didn’t take the risk! So if you find yourself longing to do something but are too much in your head to act on it, snap out of it. By holding yourself back, you’ll never know what successes can arise.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: laylaydesigns.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/laylay_designs

Image Credits:
Rica Liz Photo Mojofoto Co