Meet Monique Plante | Jewelry Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Monique Plante and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Monique, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I graduated from college in the Spring of 2020 right in the middle of the pandemic. After graduating I moved from Massachusetts to Colorado. I have always been a very creative person. My life growing up centered around performing. I was living in a new city with no access to the performing arts due to the pandemic so I started to look for another way to be creative. I met someone who designed polymer clay jewelry in the Fall of 2020. She encouraged me to give it a try! I fell in love with it right away. I have always had a strong interest in entrepreneurship. I studied fashion merchandising in college and learned a lot about opening and running an ecommerce and retail business. I started to feel more confident in my work and my designs so in March of 2021 I launched my website moniqueelisedesigns.com.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When I design and create I take inspiration from all around me. I always have new ideas swimming around in my head but when I sit down to work, I almost never have an exact plan for when the end result will be. I think that this is why I have had success so far. I never want to look at designing or creating as a chore or a task. I think that comes across in my designs. Although my business is very new, I have been setting myself up for entrepreneurship for years, whether I knew is or not. Growing up I always wanted to do things my own way and in college I really focused on gaining skills that are now helpful in running my business. Outside of my major I was a student leader in many different roles. I was always looking to connect with new people and learn more about how they experience life. I had a yearning to learn and this is what drove me to start my business. I have faced many challenges in my first year of owning Monique Elise Designs. As much as I have some amazing people in my life who really believe in me, I am doing it all on my own. What keeps me going is the chance to meet and connect with more people, whether they be business owners themselves or customers at markets or interactions I have online through my social sites. That is what Monique Elise Designs is all about.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When my best friend is in town I always come up with a list of my favorite places in Denver to bring her to. One of my favorite things about Denver is all the little market places and shopping areas willed with small businesses. The Denver Central Market in Rino is one of my favorite spots. They have amazing food for any time of the day and they are home to one of my favorite coffee shops in Denver, Crema Bodega. Another favorite in The Source Hotel Marketplace. They have my favorite new vintage shop The Lost Room Collective as well as Smok Barbecue which has amazing food. One of the biggest reasons I moved to Denver was to be closer to nature. I love to look up hikes and walks to do when friends are in town. My favorite hikes always lead to some kind of water. It could be a lake or a waterfall but I am always happiest in nature when there is water.

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?
I have met so many people and have had so many experiences since starting my business that have changed my life and the life of my business. One person that has encouraged me and taught me so much is Ashley B Jones. Ashley is an intuitive reiki instructor and tarot reader. I met Ashley right after launch my business in March 2021. She quickly became the person go to when I am feeling lost or unsure. From the minute I met her she has showed me unwavering support and has believed in me right from the start. I would not be where I am today without her!

Website: moniqueelisedesigns.com

Instagram: @moniqueelisedesigns

Facebook: Monique Elise Designs

Other: TikTok: @moniqueelisedesigns