Brett Lauren grew up in an unconventional family – her father was in the fashion industry and her mother had a very hands-on, can-fix-everything attitude. This non-traditional upbringing resulted in an ongoing curiosity about how things are made. “I love tinkering. I’ve always made jewelry,”
says Brett.
After college, Brett followed her father into the fashion business and also worked in the restaurant industry. “It’s about service and helping people,” she says. After her father passed away, Brett needed to make a change. Jewelry-making had always been a hobby, but she decided to grow it into a business. She closed the family company and went to Florence, Italy, to take metal smithing classes. She moved back to the East Coast and eventually settled in Westport, CT.
She established Brett Lauren jewelry in 2015. Her unique bracelets are crafted from gemstones sourced from around the world that are able to freely spin in individual bezels. Her jewelry is more than just beautiful, it’s a purpose-driven enterprise. Brett employs women from underserved communities, those that might have been marginalized by society. The women, who are paid for their production time, learn not just jewelry-making skills, but through each session, Brett imparts some general manufacturing and production concepts – sourcing, quality control, keeping timelines, managing costs – that she hopes they will carry with them. “These women are engaged, seeing the big picture, and caring about the quality of the work they do,” she says.
For Brett, it’s about creating a level playing field. “I want as many women around the table as possible,” she says. “We sit at the table, and everything falls away. It’s very equalizing. We’re just a bunch of women making bracelets,” Brett says. Her table companions have included women struggling with addiction, homelessness, and mental illness. Brett, who is open about her own mental health struggles, wants to help other women get on their feet. “I want people to see that you can overcome whatever challenges life hands you,” she says.
Recently, Brett met with the Prospector Theater in Ridgefield, which provides competitive and inclusive employment for people with disabilities. She donated bracelets to be sold at their upcoming gala, but worked with their employees – also known as “prospects,” to make the, teaching them a new skill.
Brett has learned that the process of making bracelets develops self-esteem and confidence in these women, which ultimately, can change their attitude toward life. “Some of them sit down and don’t feel capable of making the bracelets, but when they produce a beautiful piece of jewelry, there’s a sense of accomplishment.”
Brett has no plans to outsource her production – it’s all about remaining community-based. “I need this business and these women far more than they need me. Being of service is what keeps me going. I want it to be a look-good, feel-good, do-good experience. Consumers want to buy something that has a story – we deliver one.”
To learn more about her designs, you can visit www.brettlauren.com. •
