Meet Diane and Rachel Cohen | Jewelry designers

We had the good fortune of connecting with Diane and Rachel Cohen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Diane and Rachel, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Our thought process behind starting our own business was that we loved making jewelry (specifically bracelets) and wanted to share our love for wearing bracelets with others. We are a mother/daughter small business and Diane (mom) purchased a leather bracelet she loved. She wanted to learn how to make more bracelets like her favorite one and researched and found a wholesale suppliers of the findings and leather that was needed. Rachel (daughter) helped with the design process, website and overall running of our business. We first started our making bracelets for ourselves, family and friends and quickly realized that we could turn our love of making bracelets into a business! We started selling at craft fairs and art and wine festivals and our customers were thrilled with our leather designs.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
We think what sets us apart from other leather bracelets makers is that we get high quality leather and findings from Europe. We design and make all of our bracelets for customers. We can customize sizes and styles and make a bracelet that is unique to you. Professionally, Diane has always been involved in jewelry and jewelry is her passion. Rachel has always loved playing with jewelry, when she was a little toddler, her favorite thing was to take her mom’s jewelry and wear as many necklaces and bracelets she could for dress up! Diane received her Bachelors of Science in Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She began her career at Macy’s where she did product development for fine jewelry. She travelled overseas to source jewelry, and developed and designed jewelry with manufacturers. Next, Diane moved to San Francisco and worked as an assistant buyer in the costume jewelry department. From there Diane decided to work in store as a sales support manager for accessories, handbags, costume jewelry, fine jewelry, and cosmetics. After taking a break to raise her two kids, Diane returned to jewelry with the start of Girls Curls Jewelry.

Rachel studied microbiology at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and worked research assistant at Stanford in an immunology lab. She recently moved to Denver, CO and is currently a medical student at CU Anschutz in the Medical Scientist Training Program. Rachel loves helping run Girls Curls Jewelry with her mom, designing bracelets, and getting to be creative.

Lessons we have learned along the way is to listen to our customers, find out what they desired and make bracelets that can fit all. Everyone’s wrist is a different size and we can accommodate and make customers bracelets that fit them. It is so exciting to hear from a customer that I can never find bracelets in my size and your brand will make a unique bracelet for them that is their size. We are a women owned business supporting making people happy to wear fun and unique bracelets in their size.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Favorite place in Denver is the Botanical Gardens in spring. This is such a beautiful place to see gorgeous flowers. We love going to Farmers Markets to get fresh produce and fruit and can’t wait until the markets start up again for spring. A favorite farmers market is Highlands Ranch Farmers Market in Highlands Ranch. Rachel grew up in California where farmers markets are year round and that is one thing that she misses about California. Favorite restaurant is Safta @eatwithsafta The food is outstanding and a wonderful restaurant to go to for a special night out. A favorite store in the Arts district is ReCreative Denver on Santa Fe Drive. Located in the Arts district there are many great finds for creating in this store. @recreativedenver

We love the mountains and going hiking or camping. Denver has so many wonderful parks and hiking trails.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Our shoutout would be to Aunt Nancy! Aunt Nancy (my husband’s sister) helped us figure out how to make the bracelets and helped us shop for the supplies. Thanks to Nancy we got started on our business!

Website: www.girlscurlsjewelry.com

Instagram: @girlscurlsjewelry

Facebook: www.facebook/girlscurlsjewelry.com