Meet Rhianna Cooper

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhianna Cooper.

Hi Rhianna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started making jewelry when I was nine. My mom is a designer, and she taught me as she learned. I enjoyed using my hands and being creative and knew that I loved fashion, but when I went to college I more envisioned myself as a businesswoman and was interested in International Business and Marketing. In 2010, it was my first year going to Coachella, and my sister and I and our friends really wanted to wear feather earrings, so my mom took us downtown, and we picked a bunch of stuff out and made it into earrings; everyone loved them, and I really enjoyed making my own instead of buying them at forever21. Just before graduating college the following year, my mom gave me a big bag of her unused materials one weekend when I was home, and it was like a design explosion. I made a bunch of stuff, and a few weeks later, an artist friend asked if I wanted to try selling with her at Venice Beach. I brought what I had made and my supplies, we had a blast selling jewelry, art and making custom stuff for people. It was a great feeling and I decided that was what I wanted to do, and in 2011 VidaKush was born. As I was just about to graduate college I had already had a job lined up working in my dream career of International Business, I was supposed to move to Singapore and work for Coach. It was a difficult crossroads moment, but I chose to build VidaKush instead of taking the job and have never looked back since.

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?
It has not been a smooth road. In a way, starting this business when I was 20 years old gave me a blind sense of confidence I don’t think I could ever replicate. There have been an endless amount of struggles accompanied by lots of great moments to soften them.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in combining materials, styles, and motifs that are not usually paired together. I’m obsessed with contrast and drawing lines on the body with chains in new and innovative ways.

I think I am known for making Los Angeles-style jewelry and that the entire line is an ever-evolving reflection of the city and the culture.

I’m most proud of getting to work with musicians and artists that are up and coming and helping them express themselves through jewelry and accessories.

What sets VidaKush apart is that we will always surprise you with something new and that everything is handmade.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I’ve learned to pivot as most people will say. I didn’t know what to do, so I just kept making stuff with the supplies I had, and it pushed forward a new level of creativity. Had to start selling stuff on live videos and on Depop and move my business into my home. I didn’t love that, but things are returning to as they were before slowly. One of the craziest things was I made Beyonce a pair of glasses in my bedroom.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vidakush.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/vidakush
• Facebook: facebook.com/vidakush
• Twitter: twitter.com/vidakush
• Youtube: youtube.com/vidakush

Image Credits
Rhianna Cooper (Photographer)