HIGHLIGHTING SANDRA ANDRADE
Meet Sandra Andrade... she's a tenured exhibit and graphic designer with an intuitive sense for fashion. Early in 2020, she became interested in designing fashionable earrings for women as a passion project. However, before she could even sign-up to learn the technique she was drawn to, she was furloughed from her job, and the course instructor canceled the courses due to the pandemic. Now with her previous career on hold, she's applied her creative skills in a new way and has committed to pursuing her design dreams of making artistic fashion jewelry by launching Sugar Beads Jewelry.
H&F: Please describe your career prior to this venture.
Sandra: I have 20 years of experience as an exhibit designer. I worked for a contractor tradeshow setting up the convention events throughout the USA. My main clients were in Las Vegas.
H&F: How has your career prepared you for what is next?
Sandra: I been designing throughout my entire career. I always had that idea of designing something different from what I'm used to. I'm a fashion lover so it was the perfect time for me to reinvent myself, keep building a strong portfolio, and at the same time keep me busy during these difficult times.
"I'm a fashion lover so it was the perfect time for me to reinvent myself, keep building a strong portfolio, and at the same time keep me busy during these difficult times." -Sandra
H&F: Tell us about how you have redefined yourself. Describe your project, business, brand and/or platform.
Sandra: My business is dedicated to women who love fashion jewelry. All my pieces are exclusively inspired and designed by me. The main materials are beads and crystals. I also offer customized designs.
H&F: When/how did you get that light bulb moment to start this brand?
Sandra: I used to buy my own jewelry from a designer and used to ask her for custom designs. Right before the pandemic, she opened her own class. She offered to me if I wanted to learn her technique and I signed up, back then I did it because I wanted to have a hobby in my spare time. But then once the pandemic hit and I was furloughed she had to cancel her class and I was never able to enroll. Then like by late May she reopened the course and I got enrolled. I first learned the basics, then the more advanced techniques. After all she taught me I decided to use my talents and create my own brand and my online store and that's how I started.
H&F: Tell us something unique about your brand.
Sandra: My brand is for women that love fashion and know the importance of wearing a unique earring piece to add that additional statement to their outfit. My designs are trendy, elegant, sophisticated, and fun to wear.
H&F: Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
Sandra: I find my inspirations in magazines, in a picture, and in drawings. Sometimes just by looking at Pinterest and find a particular pattern, I visualize an idea and I start sketching.
H&F: What encouraging advice would you offer someone unsure about starting their own venture?
Sandra: The worst thing is to fear or be embarrassed about the changes that we make in life and especially in our career path. I truly believe that the rules are changing and now is the time to stop waiting and reinvent ourselves. The worst thing that can happen is thinking that you wish you could have done it but by fear, you never tried it.
Follow Sandra on Instagram @sugarbeadsjewelry
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