Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Wheeler.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have always loved jewelry. My dad took me on road trips from Boston, where I grew up, to Arizona, and I would collect rocks and turquoise silver jewelry along the way. I got my first rock tumbler after our first trip, and I would make jewelry for my mom every day. I think school just distracted me from what I really loved and after college, I worked in tech PR in the Bay Area for a long time.
I rediscovered jewelry in my mid-20s at a little crafting get together where we made simple beaded necklaces. It reignited something in me and the rest is history. It was a very slow organic thing. I started out with handmade beaded tassel necklaces and slowly made my way to fine jewelry, learning along the way. I spent 3/4 years getting everything in place before launching my first fine collection. I’ve now been doing fine for three years.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Definitely not. Because I don’t have formal training, there was a lot of trial and error. The fine jewelry industry requires a lot of trust and is not an easy one to break into. It took years of networking and effort to find the right manufacturers and suppliers. I was burned many times along the way and lost a lot of money early on.
One of the hardest things earlier in my career was when people didn’t take me seriously. Even though we are often encouraged to “follow our dreams,” when we do, I think it’s easy for people to be dismissive. Some of my friends who work regular 9-5 office jobs would put quotation marks around the word “job” when referring to mine, implying that I did not work very hard. The reality is that starting your own brand or business is much more work than any 9-5 I have ever experienced. It is all-consuming. I’ve never worked harder on anything and I am thinking about it constantly. I use the doubters as fuel and have developed an “I’ll show you” attitude that has propelled me forward.
These days, I am more motivated by my peers to be better. There is so much incredible design out there and it inspires me to make my work more beautiful and more original every season.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a fine jewelry designer specializing in fine diamond and colored gemstone creations. I’m known for a classic but edgy look and my signature aesthetic includes channel set baguettes, mixing pave and baguette diamonds, and mixing metals. I’m proud that my company exists and never thought it would come this far. It’s incredibly satisfying to make something tangible and beautiful that people see value in and want to own and wear.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My ex-husband Myles was my biggest cheerleader. He witnessed the early days when I would come home from my PR job and make jewelry at our kitchen table until three in the morning. He encouraged me to go for it and was limitlessly supportive through all the emotional highs and lows. He is still one of the first people I call when I reach major milestones in my career.
My parents also have been big advocates and have supported me from the very beginning. When I told my mom I will be launching at Bergdorf Goodman this September, she cried. She and my dad always said I could do anything I wanted but I never really believed them. It’s been amazing to witness them be so proud of me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.emilypwheeler.com
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Getty Images, Vogue, Elle
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