Aisha Lovell started handmaking jewellery from polymer clay as a hobby in 2017.

She gave her pieces to family and friends as gifts but didn’t think about turning her creative skill into a business until she attended an inspirational workshop for budding entrepreneurs.

In November 2018, Berezia Jewellery was launched.

Aisha is currently juggling her growing start-up company, alongside a full-time job, and being a mother. She shared her story with Yello.

Describe yourself using three words. 

Resourceful, passionate, and loving.

Please share a bit about your childhood.

I grew up in Husbands, St. James with my mother, father, and younger brother. I went to St. Stephen’s Primary, Queen’s College and then the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill.

Were you always a creative person? 

I never thought of myself as creative, but as an adult, I began to realise a lot of persons would tell me how creative they thought I was. So, I decided to explore it further.

When / why did you start making jewellery?

I always liked costume jewellery. One time I invested in a pricey, but stunning necklace, to wear to an outdoor event. It rained, and when I got home and took the piece off, it fell apart in my hands. I was really upset.

I went online to see if there was any way for me to fix it, but I got distracted by a video about making earrings from polymer clay. I called The Craft Shop in Bridgetown to find out if they had any clay in stock and they did.

I never figured out how to fix the broken necklace, but I did discover a new hobby – that was three years ago.

What was the first piece of jewellery you made?

The first piece I made was a green beaded necklace. The green colour combinations did not work out the way I had planned, nor did the shape of the bead, but it remains one of my favourite pieces to date.

Did you know that you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Not really. The desire to be an entrepreneur developed over time as I started to explore my new-found creativity.

Tell us about your brand Berezia Jewellery – when / why did you launch it?

I officially launched the brand in November 2018.

The idea for my brand came after I attended a workshop with my best friend, Donna. The workshop was being run by mental health consultant and coach Janelle Chase-Mayers and featured life coach Dr Sonnet Ford-Grant as the speaker.

After that, I was inspired and encouraged to take my hobby to another level.

Up until that point, I had just created pieces for myself or my friends and family as gifts. So, when I asked them for their opinion, almost all of them described the pieces they had as “unique” or “unusual”.

I searched for a word that embodied those two things and found ‘Berezia’.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced starting the business? How have you overcome them?

Starting a business, while having a full-time job and being the mother of a handsome and active nine-year-old son, has proven to be a challenge!

There never seem to be enough hours in the day, and finding balance is not as easy as it may appear. I try to plan my days ahead of time, and that helps a lot, but it can sometimes be a juggling act.

However, time with family, and those who are closest to me, always takes priority, so once I make time for that, everything else seems to fall in place.

Plus, on the days when I feel like giving up, I refocus on the fact that I must set an example for my son, Zamar.

I have been forced to recognise that it is important to have days, or at least portions of days, where I relax, rest, and rejuvenate.

Is there anything you wish you’d known before starting the business? 

I cannot really say that there is. My full-time job pretty much prepared me for what I have encountered so far.

Also, learning new things and looking from new perspectives is half the fun of doing something like this.

Describe your typical client. How do they find you?

My typical female client is a woman who wants to make a statement when she walks into a room. She is also very practical and is looking for pieces that can transform a simple jeans and t-shirt into a spectacular outfit.

A typical male client is a guy who just wants to add that touch of boho style to his outfits.

People tend to find me on Instagram or because they have seen someone wearing a piece that I made and reach out.

What inspires you when designing the jewellery?

I am inspired by island life in general. It just seems like there is an abundance of colour combinations all around me.

How would you describe your jewellery?

I would say that each piece of jewellery is a uniquely crafted picture of my thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

What materials do you like to work with?

I typically like to work with polymer clay.

Recently, I have also been encouraged and inspired by a fellow jewellery designer called Cathy Baird to explore upcycled plastic.

What are your business plans over the next five years? 

I hope to expand the Berezia brand outside of Barbados and export my products internationally.

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Thank God for your successes and ask Him to help you learn from your failures and disappointments.

Treat people (even the difficult ones) just as you would like to be treated.

Keep people around you who are genuine, positive, honest, and supportive – you are going to need them.

Support other entrepreneurs.

Understand that it is OK to be overwhelmed at times.  It is not the end of the world; you can and will recover.

What do you love about Barbados? 

Barbados is home. It is where I learned almost everything I know, and where most of the people who have shaped my life, come from.

There is no other place like it.

Where do you go to relax on a day off?

I love a night out at a local restaurant, a beach volleyball scrimmage, or a yoga class with Demi Yoga.

I can also simply stay in and have a movie or games night with my son Zamar.

What’s your philosophy in life?

“True success is not what you have acquired but who you have been able to inspire along the way.” This goes hand in hand with the idea of treating people the way you want to be treated.

We should always look to share knowledge and life experiences with others. The information you share may be the thing that inspires someone to follow a dream or not to give up.

Please tell us something only a few people know about you.

I entered NIFCA (the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts) with a jewellery piece in the Visual Arts Category and did not make it past the preliminary round. I was crushed!

You can see more Berezia Jewellery pieces on Instagram and get in touch with Aisha via email – [email protected].