Today we’d like to introduce you to Marisa Ravel.
Hi Marisa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
While living and working as an Art Director in San Francisco circa 2007, I started a side hustle, Laser Kitten, a pop-culture inspired laser cut jewelry line. I became certified at an industrial tech-shop and would rent huge laser cutting machines by the hour and cut the acrylic myself. I made a website to sell my irreverant designs and took custom jewelry orders. It was successful but a few years later, I stopped making jewelry to take care of family matters.
After an inspiring trip to London in 2015, I decided to bring Laser Kitten back. I moved to Hollywood on a whim and started making 80’s, 90’s + Y2K inspired accessories. Using my social media skills, I was able to get exposure pretty fast and was soon carried in shops worldwide.
Currently, I create the majority of my work in my home studio in Silverlake, using a mix of re-worked vintage and new materials. I’ve been lucky enough to run my business full-time since 2015.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely NOT a smooth road. Lots of ups and downs, doubts, pivots, growing pains, expensive lessons, the loneliness of working for yourself, and everything in between!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We specialize in 80’s, 90’s + Y2K era re-worked vintage! We are known for our fully loaded charm bracelets, layered charm necklaces, nostalgic earrings and other goodies with our signature glitter-punk twist!
Along with handmade jewelry, we also carry pop-culture enamel pins, keychains, stickers, laser cut acrylic earrings, 18k gold jewelry, and even limited-edition apparel from time to time.
Recently, our work was seen on the cover of VMAN Magazine, styled by Nicola Formichetti. Something I love about living in LA is working with amazing stylists.
What were you like growing up?
I’ve been making jewelry since I was a small child. My mother had me in art classes and showed me how to make jewelry as soon as I had hand-eye coordination! I spent my childhood in bead shops, art classes, summer art camps, and so on. I’ve never questioned if I was an artist or not, I’ve always known.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.laserkitten.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/laserkitten
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/laserkitten
Image Credits:
All photos by Marisa Ravel
