Today we’d like to introduce you to Elena Barrera.
Hi Elena, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
E & co. Jewelry was an underdeveloped idea in the back of my mind when the COVID-19 pandemic took over Dallas County, it blossomed into a larger commitment than simply an effort to de-stress and keep busy while we were all stuck at home. The pandemic gave me the chance to be able to actually sit down and focus on exploring my creativity without interruptions. In my heart, I knew I wanted to create something for all women, myself included, with the intent to help us feel empowered and beautiful even when we’re not feeling our absolute best.
I began by doodling designs on paper then moved on to prototyping with the clay and one thing led to another from there. After a couple of months of experimenting, I knew I’d found my “thing.” With the full support of my family, I decided to take a leap of faith and make E & co. Jewelry official. The “E” comes from my first name initial, “& co.” is to include my ever-faithful family because I couldn’t have done it without them. It doesn’t matter how early, late, or how far any market is, at least one of them will be there to help out for the day. I’m proud to be a woman and small business owner, but most of all I’m honored to be able to inspire and empower other women through consciously and thoughtfully produced handcrafted items.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Since the creative industry is already a very broad and saturated industry, initially, I worried there were many other artists in different parts of the world doing the same thing. However, I chose to pursue the adventure because I avidly believe there is a large enough market for all. While we might get our inspiration from the same things and places, each maker has their unique style, and when they find it is when they begin to draw their own loyal clientele.
Although I had a clear vision for where I wanted to take the business and grow, I still struggled with being able to express myself because I was uncertain and would often clash with my own self-doubts. The craft has definitely taught me how exercising patience and having faith in yourself can make a big difference in one’s life. I’m still working on expanding the shop as a whole and while I have other ventures in mind, learning how to take things day-by-day and not becoming overwhelmed is also something I’m currently practicing. Looking back now, my advice to those who want to start a business would be to just do it. Take advantage of the opportunities that the world has to offer and go for them. You’re only stopping yourself, and if not now, when? Everyone is scared of failing, but honestly, who cares? Speaking from personal experience, if you’re not failing, you’re not learning.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Clay as a creative medium has an endless range of utility, and because of that, you are able to use it to essentially create whatever you’d like. Once you find the brand of clay you like best and get a feel for how to use it, you’re halfway there. What follows is making sure the clay is properly conditioned, as it is a big part of mastering the practice. The next steps include baking, sanding, assembling, and quality checking. At E & co., we start off with one main color and build the rest of the palette from there. Any artist will tell you we all have a part of the process that we like the least. However, learning to embrace each step is an essential part of growth because once you see it all come together, the finished product is definitely a reason to celebrate every time. I’m most proud of seeing how each collection comes together and witnessing customers’ excitement while shopping with us is a fulfilling and innately gratifying experience for me.
We get so many compliments on how we offer a large variety of styles and range of colors that the biggest complaint we get is “not being able to choose just one pair.” For this reason, we aim to keep our prices affordable, always considering the amount of time and labor that goes into each pair of earrings. With that being said, we also like to surprise our subscribers with occasional sales in order to express our appreciation to those who likewise appreciate our craft. Nevertheless, our bestsellers usually consist of the neutral options we offer in every release. Based on our numbers, we have found that our customers value our eye for creating these designs the most. Our signature neutrals regularly include assorted shades of soft and neutral pinks as they’re also foolproof, popular options.
Lastly, we’d like to highlight the fact that each one of our styles is a tribute to all women, hence the inference of why they’re all named after one.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
My favorite thing about Dallas is the people. Although I’m an introvert by nature, Dallas people know how to get me out of my comfort zone and socialize! It’s especially refreshing to be able to have a conversation with people at each pop-up because knowing they are there for the same reasons we are, just ties everything together. I love sharing details about the city and what it has to offer with someone who knows exactly what I’m talking about. The best part is how you can come across a myriad of rendezvous, all within 20-30 minutes of each other. Dallas, in its entirety, is one of the most diverse and open-minded cities in the country. As its people are also, it’s such a positive phenomenon to be able to experience the diversity, inclusivity, and cheerfulness that Dallas has to offer. Texas is already a great place to live in, but “Dallasites” are beyond proud! I wouldn’t dare say there is anything I don’t like about it!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.eandcojewelry.com
- Instagram: @shopeandcojewelry
- Facebook: @shopeandcojewelry
Image Credits
Elena Barrera
