Carlee J. Jewelry: Wake Forest’s Own Launches Jewelry Business
By Lynn Huffard
Rising Wake Forest Sophomore, Carlee Launsbach, has launched her own Jewelry Brand called, Carlee J. Jewelry. Her customizable, bead bracelet based brand was inspired when last semester she saw girls wearing customized sorority bracelets. Carlee quickly turned to her mom, who has her own jewelry line (Ula Fine Jewelry) and inquired how she could help Carlee make a bracelet for herself. She received many compliments wearing her signature sorority bracelet and friends began to inquire where they could purchase one themselves. After a few initial orders from friends she was motivated to start thinking about turning her tiny production into a business. With the severe overcharge in the gold filled beaded market, Carlee saw the opportunity to offer high quality and trendy pieces at an affordable price. From there, she started an instagram account where she promotes and sells her one of a kind bracelets.
The budding business currently specializes in gold filled bracelets and other gold filled jewelry. She is still in the process of developing the brand and is, “constantly brainstorming new possibilities of ways to grow and expand”.
Carlee runs the brand and creates all the pieces herself, however she gives high credit to her mom, who has helped her get more familiar with the jewelry industry and the jewelry district in Downtown LA.
The aesthetic of Carlee J. Jewelry is simple and classy. The bracelets can stand alone or be paired and stacked alongside your other jewelry products. Carlee recommends stacking the bracelets, usually with a few different sized beaded bracelets to add variation and interest to the look. The 5 mm, customized gold filled bracelets, with initials, names or added hearts and stars paired with the 4 mm gold filled bead bracelet is the perfect way to achieve this look.
Carlee, “personally tends to only mix metals that would compliment each other, sucha s gold and rose gold” however she thinks “it can be fun to try out different pieces with colored gemstones as well just to see what looks good together”.
Carlee J. Jewelry is unique in that it offers quality, personalized bracelets at reasonable prices that can be mixed in with more expensive pieces and still stand out. This jewelry is all hand crafted by Carlee herself. She sources all her materials from Downtown Los Angeles. To make the pieces she starts with an elastic cord, stringing on the gold filled beads and custom initials, charms, pearls, gems and other baubles. These bracelets are so easy to roll on or off your wrist, and comfortable to wear- perfect for the young, on-the-go girl!
What is great is the gold filled jewelry is a more affordable alternative to 14k solid gold, and stays just as bright and shiny. Unlike gold plated jewelry which chips easily and wears off, gold filled is durable, does not tarnish easily and can be worn in the shower. Gold filled jewelry is actually a solid layer of gold bonded mechanically to a solid metal base. Can someone say the perfect summer staple?!
Recently, Carlee has added necklaces to her line which she makes with a gold wire and clasp. The process she says of making the necklaces is really similar to that of the small beaded bracelets. She has also been “experimenting with the use of different materials such as wooden beads, pearls and gemstones”.
So, now that you know about the brand, I am sure you are itching to find out where to purchase. This is where I will direct you to Carlee J. Jewelry’s instagram page, where you can “DM” (direct message) her to purchase products. Whatever your style, Carlee can customize- “There are no limits on how [the bracelets] are customized. I can accommodate any preferences!”
The prices for all her gold filled bracelets are between $20-$40 depending on their size. She also offers some lower priced wooden bracelets with gold beads starting at $17, and all her necklaces start at around $50. Carlee offers some insight on her pricing; “Gold filled products are about 5 percent gold, so the heavier the piece the more expensive it will be!”
When asked if she had to wear one piece from her collection for the rest of her life, Carlee landed on the 5 mm gold filled bracelet.
She says, “It would dress up any outfit and it is easy to layer with any new jewelry trends in the coming years”.
Speaking of the coming years Carlee predicts that the layered, or stackable jewelry trend will persist throughout 2021 and beyond.
“One of the many great things about beaded bracelets and necklaces is that they are a staple - a great compliment to any jewelry trends. Right now link bracelets and necklaces layered with discs and charms are very trendy. The simplicity of beaded bracelets layer beautifully with the current summer trend of link bracelets and gemstone jewelry.”
Having grown up around the jewelry business, Carlee has developed a real passion and love for all things jewelry. She never leaves the house without accenting her look with a bracelet or necklace. When asked what advice she would give to someone who wants to start a business in jewelry, fashion or likewise, she offers passion as the driving force behind everything.
“If you do something you love, then it will not feel like work and you will want to spend a lot of your time developing your business into something special. Having passion for what it is that you do makes inspiration and motivation come easier and starting a business is less daunting.”
Well, we sure love what Carlee is doing and can’t wait to get some customizable jewelry to show off come fall back at Wake Forest!
