If your idea of fashion involves a heavy dose of fun, you’re going to love Le Chic Miami! Her colorful, hand-painted earrings range from 70s-style pastel rainbows to anatomical hearts, and every pair is designed to bring a big smile to the face of anyone who sees them. We’re excited to introduce you to Lydia so she can share the story behind her vibrant designs.
Hi Lydia! Thanks so much for sharing your story with us today! Can you please tell everyone a little about yourself?
I was born and raised in Seattle, WA, where I lived until I was 30. After a six-month solo backpacking trip through Cuba, Mexico and Colombia I decided to relocate to Miami. I had recently graduated with a degree in Interior Design but had no idea what I wanted to do. Miami inspired me through its beautiful architecture, vibrant culture and loud, loving people. It was the complete opposite of Seattle and I wanted to have a completely new experience.
We love the way your travels and experiences shape your art! This past year has been a tough one. Can you share something good that has come out of this time?
This past year was definitely one of the hardest. I lost my mother, my part-time job and basically my normal daily life. I didn’t leave my apartment for months and eventually relocated back to Seattle to be with my father during this difficult time. Out of all that though, came real growth, personal and business. I was able to focus on my craft and company full time which led to huge changes. My skills as a designer and an entrepreneur flourished. My partner and I also made the decision to make San Antonio our forever home after a long cold winter in Seattle. 2020 was a dark time but 2021 marked a new beginning.
I am so sorry to hear about the hurts of the past year. Thank you for sharing those with us as well as the hope that comes from your new beginning. We’re glad you ended up in Texas. Tell us about your business-- what do you make and how long have you been doing it?
My company is Le Chic Miami. I started the company in Miami back in 2018 participating in local weekend markets. I used to sell vintage clothing as well and we were actually called Le Chic Boutique back then (which is where the Le Chic came from)! After about a year of participating in weekend markets, I realized my real passion was designing earrings and I decided to solely focus on that. At that point, we became Le Chic Miami. I wanted to create a company to empower women that was all-inclusive and felt like I could make a difference through my designs. Le Chic Miami creates vibrant hand-painted earrings for vibrant people. I design, laser cut, and then paint each earring by hand.
Vibrant earrings for vibrant people! What a fun mission-- and one you’re excelling at fulfilling! What is the most memorable response you’ve had to your work?
When I started my company it was really important to me that it was all-inclusive. I wanted my customers to not only wear my brand but to also feel represented by my brand. This is why I always take customer suggestions seriously and if it’s a style I feel like I can stand behind, I will usually make it.
Our earring cards also have women of different ethnicities modeling the earrings on them. I want to make sure each and every person feels represented. I traveled to Chicago to participate in a market there and had two different customers thank me for representing them on my earring cards. They both said, I never see people who look like me represented in brands, so thank you for representing me in your company. Those interactions really impacted me and I think about them whenever I am making decisions as a brand.
We love the strides you’re taking to embody inclusivity in design and through your earring cards! If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I’ve been dying to go to Italy, Croatia and Greece. I’ve been all over the world but haven’t had a chance to explore Europe much! I always return home with so much inspiration after a trip. I am fascinated by learning how other people around the world operate in their daily lives. I know very little about these three countries and would love to be able to explore them more. I love seeing architecture and interior design in different parts of the world as well. It’s something that has an influence on my designs."
We hope you’re able to make it over to Europe soon-- and we’ll be eagerly awaiting the new designs the trip inspires! Thank you for sharing the story of Le Chic Miami with us today, Lydia! We are so grateful to have you as a maker at Mosaic Makers Collective!
Want to learn more about our makers or shop Le Chic? Check out these additional resources:
- Visit our shop in the Bishop Arts District
- Shop Le Chic online
- Meet more of our Mosaic Makers on the Blog