The Story Behind Iris Studio Jewelry: A Love Letter to My Mother

This business didn't start with a business plan.

It started with grief. And love. And the slow, aching realization that when someone you love dies, you have two choices: let the loss hollow you out, or turn it into something that keeps their name alive.

I chose the second one.

Iris Studio Jewelry exists because my mother, Iris Leasure, existed. Because she taught me that beauty isn't frivolous—it's survival. Because she believed that leaving the house without your earrings wasn't just careless. It was forgetting who you are.

And I couldn't forget her. I wouldn't.

So I built this.

Her Name Was Iris Leasure

My mother passed away in 2007 from bladder cancer.

I was young. Too young to lose her. Too young to understand that grief doesn't end—it just changes shape. That some losses don't close. They just become part of who you are.

But even in her absence, she left me something.

She left me her belief that adornment matters. That how you present yourself to the world isn't vanity—it's intention. That putting on your earrings in the morning is an act of preparation, of ritual, of showing up for yourself even when life feels heavy.

"Never leave the house without your earrings," she'd say.

Not because she cared about trends or fashion. But because she understood something most people don't: jewelry is armor.

It's the small act of care that says, I'm ready. I'm here. I matter.

And I wanted to carry that forward.

Why I Started Iris Studio Jewelry

For years after she died, I carried her memory quietly. I went to school. I built a career. I kept moving.

But something was missing.

I needed to do more than remember her. I needed to honor her. To say her name out loud. To make sure the world knew that Iris Leasure mattered—not just to me, but to anyone who would listen.

In 2019, I founded Iris Studio Jewelry.

Not as a hobby. Not as a side hustle. As a love letter.

Every pair of earrings I make is a way of keeping her name alive. Every woman who wears ISJ is carrying a piece of her philosophy—that beauty is power, that adornment is intentional, that you deserve to feel confident every time you step outside.

This business is my way of making sure she's never forgotten.

What Iris Studio Jewelry Stands For

I didn't just want to make jewelry. I wanted to build something that meant something.

ISJ is rooted in three pillars:

Culture.

This is a Black-owned, woman-owned business. The jewelry I create celebrates Black luxury, artistic chaos, and the kind of beauty that doesn't apologize for taking up space. Every design is influenced by heritage, texture, and the understanding that our culture isn't a trend—it's timeless.

Confidence.

My mother taught me that jewelry isn't decoration. It's preparation. It's the small ritual that reminds you that you're worthy of being seen. When you wear ISJ, you're not just accessorizing. You're armoring yourself for whatever the day brings.

Connection.

This business exists because of love. Because of loss. Because of the deep human need to keep our people alive through the work we do. Every piece I create is a bridge between my mother's legacy and the woman wearing it. It's storytelling. It's memory made tangible.

Tagline: "Wear Your Story."

Because your jewelry should mean something. It should carry weight. It should remind you where you came from and who you're becoming.

What We Make (And Why It Matters)

Iris Studio Jewelry specializes in handmade polymer clay earrings and curated stainless steel jewelry (rings, chains, bracelets).

Every polymer clay piece is hand-sculpted. No two pairs are exactly alike. I shape them, texture them, bake them, seal them, and assemble them myself. It's slow work. Intentional work. The kind of work that can't be rushed.

The stainless steel pieces I curate are chosen because they're hypoallergenic, tarnish-resistant, and built to last. I don't sell fast fashion. I sell pieces you'll still be wearing five years from now. Pieces you might pass down.

Because if my mother taught me anything, it's that quality matters. That the things we carry with us—physical and emotional—should be made to endure.

This Is More Than a Business

I won't lie to you: building Iris Studio Jewelry has been hard.

There have been moments where I've questioned everything. Moments where I've wondered if anyone cares about handmade jewelry in a world of Amazon Prime and two-day shipping. Moments where I've felt like I'm shouting into the void.

But then someone buys a pair of earrings. And they message me to say, "These made me feel beautiful today." Or, "I wore these to my job interview and got the position." Or, "My grandmother saw me wearing these and said I reminded her of herself when she was young."

And I remember why I'm doing this.

Not for the money (though I'd love to hit $100K in revenue this year—let's be real). Not for the Instagram followers. Not even for the accolades.

But because this work matters.

Because my mother's name deserves to be said. Because Black women deserve to feel seen and celebrated. Because adornment isn't shallow—it's sacred.

And because every time someone puts on a pair of ISJ earrings and feels a little more like themselves, I know my mother is smiling.

What's Next for Iris Studio Jewelry

We're growing.

But growth isn't just about numbers. It's about impact.

We're expanding into corporate partnerships—bringing ISJ pop-up experiences to companies that want to celebrate their teams with something meaningful, not just another branded tote bag.

We're launching workshops—teaching women and girls how to design their own jewelry, how to turn creativity into confidence, how to build something with their hands.

We're applying for grants to fund programming that empowers Black women and underserved communities through artistry and entrepreneurship.

And we're deepening our commitment to quality, storytelling, and cultural authenticity in every piece we create.

Because this isn't just about selling jewelry. It's about building a legacy. It's about making sure that when people think of Iris Studio Jewelry, they don't just think of earrings.

They think of empowerment. They think of culture. They think of connection.

They think of my mother.

Thank You for Being Here

If you've read this far, thank you.

Thank you for caring about the story behind the jewelry. Thank you for supporting small businesses, Black-owned businesses, woman-owned businesses. Thank you for understanding that what we buy matters—not just because of what it is, but because of what it represents.

Every time you choose ISJ, you're choosing intentionality. You're choosing to support a business built on love, not just profit. You're choosing to wear something that means something.

And you're helping me keep my mother's name alive.

So from the bottom of my heart: thank you.

Now go put on your earrings. You've got a world to show up for.

Ready to shop? Browse our collection of handmade polymer clay earrings and curated stainless steel jewelry at www.irisstudiojewelry.com.

Want to work with us? We offer corporate pop-up experiences, workshops, and custom jewelry gifting. Email us at partnerships@irisstudiojewelry.com.

Follow the journey: Instagram @irisstudiojewelry