Jeweler Interview: Peggy Li

Simple, feminine and elegant, it's not surprising that Peggy Li's jewelry collections have been seen on TV shows such as The Practice, as well as being featured in fashion magazines such as Oprah, Lucky and Teen Vogue.  Her jewelry uses high quality and unusual elements in stylish designs and her uncomplicated and highly wearable range is a testament to her keen business sense. Here, she talks to The Jewelry Report about her work.

You have seen great commercial success, with your designs being featured on several TV shows. How do you think that has impacted your brand? Being featured on TV shows and in magazines can bring you new customers as well as attention from retail stores and other press outlets. It also gives your brand great credibility with customers. However, it is really up to you as a business owner to turn any press hit into more press hits. Press is tough work, and not every mention will result in direct sales.

Where do you find inspiration? I find inspiration with what's going on with current fashion as well as in nature. I love finding new stones or stones in unusual cuts.

sklWhat is your favorite design, and is this your best seller? My favorite design is usually my most recent. Right now I'm really into black for Fall and I love my Pearl and Black Necklace; freshwater pearls and tektite lava. Not a huge seller, but I still love it.

How did you first get into jewelry art? I think it is a pretty typical story; I couldn't afford to buy jewelry, so I made some for myself. People on the street would stop and ask me where I got my jewelry and a business was born.

asdfWhat keeps you motivated? I love the freedom having my own business provides me. I love being creative and beaded jewelry is really an instant-gratification way to indulge in creativity. I also live with my business (I work out of my apartment) and so I'm constantly immersed in it.

Can you name another jewelry designer whose work you admire? I admire a lot of other jewelers! Melissa Joy Manning, Tina Tang and Ten Thousand Things come to mind.

Do you find the process of experimentation frustrating or inspiring? Inspiring, for sure! I love to learn and add new techniques to my arsenal. Frustrating when it costs a lot of money or I don't have the time/space to take advantage of it.

Do you prefer doing retail or trade events? Retail - meeting customers face-to-face gives me a lot of insight into my work. I sell mostly through my website, so the personal time with customers is really cool.

If you could have any jewelry super-power to help you with your jewelry what would it be? I would want to be able to travel the world and select stones and unusual artifacts for myself to use in my jewelry.

View Peggy Li's collections online at her website, www.peggyli.com.